ISLAMABAD: A freight railway service between Pakistan and Iran has been suspended after the track connecting the two countries was submerged in water due to recent floods, a railway official said on Wednesday.
Torrential monsoon rains in Pakistan have left over 500 dead since June, with the country’s southwestern Balochistan province reporting the highest number of casualties at over 150. The Balochistan province borders Iran, with which Pakistan shares a 959-km border.
“The freight train service between Pakistan and Iran has been suspended as the track connecting the two countries has been submerged in water [near Ahmadwal town in Balochistan],” Babar Ali, Director-General of Public Relations of Pakistan Railways, told Arab News. “Repair work to restore the track is underway.”
Meanwhile, Pakistani news channel ARY said four freight trains were standing at the Dalbandin railway station for the past 10 days due to the damaged track.
“The trains [are] carrying rice cargo for Iran while extremely hot weather could rot the cargo,” ARY News quoted an unnamed railway official as saying.
The freight service was suspended for ten days last month, but was partially restored about repair works on the tracks.
