Heavy rainfall disrupted railway operations in Rawalpindi and Islamabad after nearly two feet of water accumulated on the Manikyala-Sihala railway track, forcing authorities to suspend the movement of several trains.
Railway authorities halted operations on the affected section from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. due to severe waterlogging. Trains arriving from Lahore and Karachi were also stopped from passing through the affected route.
The disruption affected eight trains traveling toward Lahore, Multan, Quetta and Karachi. Pakistan Express, Khyber Mail, Rehman Baba and Tezgam were among the trains held at Chaklala Railway Station, along with two Rawalpindi-Lahore Railcars.
The suspension left passengers stranded for six to eight hours. Some passengers reportedly staged protests over the lack of food and other basic facilities during the prolonged delay.
Railway officials declared the Manikyala-Sihala section highly hazardous because of the accumulated water. Train speeds in the affected area were restricted to between 10 and 15 kilometers per hour.
Experts also warned that operating trains on the waterlogged track could pose serious safety risks.
The disruption occurred as Rawalpindi continued to experience heavy rainfall for the fourth consecutive day, adding pressure on railway operations in the region.
Railway authorities said train services on the Manikyala-Sihala section would resume once the water recedes and the track is inspected and declared safe for train movement.
Officials are monitoring the situation and will allow normal operations only after safety conditions on the affected railway section improve.
