Train Accident
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Railways suspended six officials in connection with the derailment of the Hazara Express near Nawabshah. This incident resulted in at least 30 fatalities and numerous injuries last week.
The Hazara Express, bound for Havelian, derailed near Sarhari Railway Station in Sindh’s Sanghar district on Sunday. Pakistan Railways officials attributed the cause to a broken railway line and a hot axle that caused movement obstruction.
Railways Minister Saad Rafique, however, hinted at the possibility of both sabotage and mechanical failure. He had also deemed the railway track to be in proper condition.
Subsequently, Pakistan Railway formed a six-member investigative team to probe the crash.
Today, the Ministry of Railways notified suspension of six officers with immediate effect. The department took the action under Rule-5 of the Civil Servants (Efficiency and Discipline) Rules, 2020.
The suspended officials include a divisional executive engineer from Sukkur, a diesel workshop manager in Karachi, the assistant executive engineer of Nawabshah, the permanent way officer of Shahdadpur, the power controller of Kotri, and a key-man.
This suspension follows a departmental investigation into the crash. It revealed that missing fishplates and a damaged track derailed the Hazara Express.
The report concluded that the accident occurred due to a broken rail and missing fishplates.
Additionally, the investigation team identified the skidding of the train’s locomotive as another contributing factor to the derailment.
The report indicated that the train engine left the site without examination by senior subordinates.
Furthermore, the report noted “little hitting spots” on the iron fishplates and wooden terminal beyond the accident point. As a result, both the engineering and mechanical branches were held accountable for the accident.
