Train Driver And Assistant Make Pit Stop On Railroad Track To Buy Yogurt [Watch]

A train driver in Pakistan and his assistant have been suspended after they allegedly stopped the locomotive on its track because they wanted to buy yogurt.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, the driver’s assistant is seen buying a bag of yogurt from a food stall at the station and then climbing onto the train, which had its engines left running. The incident took place Monday at the Kanha railway station. The train was scheduled to run from the city of Lahore to the city of Karachi.

Pakistan Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati suspended the driver and his assistant, identified as Rana Mohammad Shehzad and Iftikhar Hussain, respectively, after the video went viral.

"I will not tolerate such events in the future and allow anyone to use national assets for personal use," Minister Swati said in a statement, according to the local news, Dawn.

Many laughed off the incident on social media. But, some have also raised concerns regarding the safety and regulations of the railway lines in Pakistan. In recent years, mismanagement and neglect have led to several accidents.

"When you stop a train in the middle (of the tracks) it becomes a safety issue. Safety is our priority. We cannot tolerate anything which compromises safety," said Syed Ijaz-ul-Hassan Shah, a spokesman for the railway ministry, TimesNow News reported.

According to a railway official, incidents such as these are not uncommon in the country.

In June, 30 people died and 50 more were injured after two trains collided in Pakistan. A train running from Lahore to Karachi derailed and slammed into a train coming from the opposite direction. Several carriages were destroyed in the incident.

Earlier this month, officials with the Pakistan Railway banned drivers and their assistants from using their cellphones while operating the locomotives. They have been barred from taking selfies, recording videos and audio on their phones while on the train, the Dawn reported.

As an added safety measure, railway divisional heads have been directed to keep track of crew members while they are on the train.