PR's probe team fails to reach consensus on 'prime reason' for derailment

Initial probe hints at missing fishplates, mechanical fault, sabotage bid behind train tragedy

LAHORE /HYDERABAD (Web Desk) - A preliminary report of the departmental probe into the Hazara Express crash near Nawabshah has hinted at missing fishplates, damaged track and a sabotage effort as the main reasons behind the tragic incident.

Hazara Express crash near Nawabshah had left at least 30 people dead and scores injured on Sunday. “After checking from all the aspects, we came to [the] conclusion that [the] accident took place due to broken rail track and missing fishplates,” said the report.

The six-member Pakistan Railways inquiry team also identified skidding of the train’s locomotive as another reason behind the derailment.

The report said the train engine had left the site without examination by senior subordinates. Moreover, “little hitting spots” were found on the iron fishplates and wooden terminal beyond the accident point. “Hence the engineering branch and mechanical branch are held responsible for this accident,” it reads.

The document says that sabotage cannot be rejected as the derailed coaches were dragged to a distance of 750 feet.

Two of the team members gave dissenting notes. “The derailment took place due to two fishplates missing, broken rail, [and] engine derailment inside the track due to spread of the gauge. Resultantly, the grazing marks were also found visible on outside the wheel disc. Also no heating marks were observed on the track, fishplates and bolts,” said on the team member.

According to the other dissenting official, the actual cause of derailment was “due to engine axle jammed resulting deep fling which left hitting marks” at fishplates. “This deepness increased with continuous jamming, resulting breakage of fish-bolts for the missing fishplates,” the official’s note reads.

Hosever, the PR officials were of the view that it was a ‘very initial probe report’ as the final one will take some time to prepare.

“A detailed probe in this regard is underway as the Federal Government Inspector of Railways (a grade 22 officer) is on site to find out the reason behind this tragedy,” they said.

Rail traffic on both up and down tracks restored

Pakistan railways has restored rail traffic on both up and down track after repair and maintenance of the track. After the accident, the down track was restored about 18 hours and departure of trains also started, but the up track was still being rehabilitated.

Inspector of Railways Ali Muhammad Afridi said that the up track was affected 300 to 400 feet in the Hazara Express train accident, but now the track rehabilitation work had been completed after which both tracks had been restored.