JEC report: Train derailed due to over-speeding

Panel rules out possibility of any sabotage act in the July 2 incident.

ISLAMABAD: The seven-member civil-military Joint Enquiry Committee (JEC) probing the July 2 train accident in Gujranwala has ruled out possibility of any sabotage act, saying the derailment of S-318 (military special) occurred due to an excessive speed.

The special train was heading towards Kharian from Panu Aqil transporting military personnel met fatal accident by crossing a railway bridge near Gujranwala, which killed as many as 15 people.

Federal Minister for Railways Saad Rafique informed the Senate and National Assembly Standing Committees on Railways met on Tuesday.

The joint report presented to the committees further revealed that speedometer of the train was not working while the SoPs for special military trains are questionable and needs to be reviewed. Speed of the train should have been 30km per hour while passing through the bridge but at the time of incident the speed of the train was 75 to 85km per hour, it added.

The minister told the committees that the JEC, headed by Federal Government Inspector of Railways Mian Muhammad Arshad, which considered all probable causes of derailment of locomotive and concluded that the derailment of S-318 occurred due to running of the train at an excessive speed.

Maj-Gen Shahzad Sikandar, director general engineers, GHQ informed the committees that the speedometer of the train was not functional.

The National Assembly Standing Committee recommended that railways in consultation with Pakistan Army should develop effective SoPs for the movement of military special trains. The panel also suggested upgradation of the existing infrastructure of Pakistan Railways.

The JEC held three officials including Riaz Ahmad (driver) responsible for running the train at an excessive speed and being not vigilant. He also did not observe speed restriction of stop-dead at bridge.

Furthermore, Muhammad Fayyaz, assistant driver, is also held responsible in this case as he was to assist the driver to observe the permissible speed and all speed restrictions imposed on the section. Shahid Mehmood, pointsman who worked as a guard, also was also charged for not being vigilant and not applying the brakes during the journey. The panel also held five officials indirectly responsible for the incident.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 29^th, 2015.