Sadiqabad train crash cause yet to be ascertained

Committee told it could not be established whether accident occurred due to fault of driver or station master

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Railways was told that the cause of Sadiqabad train accident could not be ascertained.

A meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Railways was held with Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo in chair. After offering fateha for the departed souls, participants of the meeting discussed the issue of increasing train accidents in the country. The officials recommended that train drivers be provided with an environment where it is mandatory for them to take ample rest.

The committee was told it could be not established whether accident occurred due to the fault of the driver or the station master. The railways officials claimed that the station master was confused and the driver ignored the signals.

The committee sought complete investigation into the incident along with driver’s fitness report. Meanwhile, Pakistan Railways decided not to run any new trains for the time being.

At least 21 dead, over 100 injured in Sadiqabad train accident

While briefing the session, federal coordinator for railways said that there were three ways of receiving a train at any railway station, which included the clearance of line, complete arrival and downing of an outer signal.

He told the participants that the driver of Akbar Express was stopped on outer signal when the signal was red but he ignored the signal.

The committee chairman questioned apart from panic was any other fault of the station master revealed.

The railway authorities responded that no other fault had been ascertained and that the investigation had not yet been completed on which the committee sought the investigation report in the next meeting.

The committee stressed the need for conducting medical test of railways staff to ensure their physical and mental fitness.

They directed the railways ministry to submit the medical reports of the driver and the station master, including tests taken after the accident to determine drug usage.

The Senate panel recommended the installation of CCTV to monitor the driver’s movement. The members recommended forming a committee to evaluate personal issues of railway staff, especially the drivers, to ensure that they were not mentally stressed, while performing their duties.

The committee was informed that medical examination of staff was conducted on a regular basis. Discussing education and training, the body was told that a minimum qualification of FSc was mandatory for recruitment after which, two-year simulator training was imparted.

The meeting was attended by Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi, Senator Brig (retd) John Kenneth Williams, Senator Rana Mahmoodul Hassan, Senator Khanzada Khan, Senator Gianchand, Senator Liaqat Khan Tarakai, senior officials of Ministry of Railways and others.

At least 25 people were killed and over 80 injured when a passenger train, Akbar Express, crashed into a parked freight train at Walhar Train Station in Sadiqabad on July 11, 2019.