Collapsed Chanawan bridge hinders teams' struggles to lift train wreckage
Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif has paid a visit to Combined Military Hospital (CMH)
GUJRANWALA (Dunya News) – The rescue teams on Saturday are continuing struggle to get engine and the last bogie left of the wrecked train out of the canal however, the collapsed Chanawan bridge has been a huge problem in the process.
Heavy cranes have been called from Islamabad to help speed up the process.
According to the details, a bogie was lifted out on July 3 evening while another today in the early hours from the Lower Chenab canal.
Separately, Chief Minister (CM) Shahbaz Sharif has paid a visit to Combined Military Hospital (CMH). He inquired about well being of the people under treatment after the accident. Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah and Col (r) Shuja Khanzada were among those who accompanied the CM during visit.
Shahbaz said that the Punjab government stands with the injured people and affected families in this difficult time.
Earlier, Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on Friday inspected the scene of Gujranwala train accident and also collected important evidence on this occasion. Sources claim that Railways officials tried to remove the evidence before the team arrived. No proofs of sabotage were found, however, reported Dunya News.
According to the sources, Railways officials tried to fix the affected track before the team’s arrival. This could have led to removal of the evidence as well. The JIT inquiry also says that the accident took place because of fault in the track, not because of collapsing of the bridge. Traces of the engine and the bogies traveling on the track can be found up to 70 meters.
In his statement recorded by the JIT, Divisional Engineer Railway Farman Ghani also admitted some fault in the track. Evidence also says that the engine went off the track some 250 meters before the bridge.
The JIT will scrutinize the inspection record of the Bridge No. 278 in Lahore Headquarters on Saturday and will also record the statements of the concerned authorities. The initial report is expected to be handed over to the federal government by Sunday evening.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Javed Anwar has said that repair of the track might have been attempted for removing the bogies. He said that joint rating of the tracks has been recorded and more facts will surface after the engine is taken out of the water.
