After making an unexpected stop to pick up some yoghurt, a Pakistani intercity train driver has been suspended.
Social media users have started sharing a video of the driver’s aide collecting the snack from a street kiosk before hopping back into the carriage.
The tragedy on Monday has sparked concerns about railway safety and regulation in Pakistan, where mismanagement and neglect are typical causes of accidents.
“It becomes a safety hazard when a train is stopped in the middle of the tracks. Our top priority is keeping you safe. Anything that jeopardises our safety is unacceptable “On Wednesday, the railway ministry’s spokesman, Syed Ijaz-ul-Hassan Shah, told AFP.
The passenger service had begun its voyage in Lahore, Pakistan’s eastern city, and was heading south to Karachi.
Azam Khan Swati, the country’s railroads minister, issued a statement warning that he will not “allow anyone to utilise national assets for personal gain.”
Such instances are not uncommon in Pakistan, according to a railway official, and control is frequently absent.
In June, a train hurtling through farmland collided with the carriages of another train that had derailed minutes before, killing more than 60 people.