LAHORE - The joint investigation team of Pakistan Army and Pakistan Railways Saturday continued probing the Gujranwala train tragedy on second day.
PR engineers viewed the multiple factors including poor infrastructure as the main reasons behind the incident that caused death of 19 people including army officers and jawans.
A local TV quoting the second days finding stated that train crossed the speed limit before the incident.
“The speed of the train was 65km per hour which should be 30km per hour. The driver was unaware about the speed limit,” read the initial findings of the inquiry. It was also pointed out the track’s nut-bolts were not tight and fish plates on it were dislocated which led the de-tracking of the locomotive, some hundreds meters prior to the bridge.
The initial finding also pointed out the locomotive (American made) was 48 years old and its last inspection was done some 15 years ago.
The Railways already dispelled any linkage of the incident with the bridge’s age, however the inquiry committee would also examine its condition.
Federal railways inspector Mian Muhammad Arshad is leading the committee which includes officials of Pak-Army and PR.
The committee members are: Major General Shahzad Sikander, Brigadier Naseem Baig, Colonel Muhammad Faheem, Additional GM (Mechanical) Liaqat Ali Chughtai, Additional GM (Infrastructure) Humayon Rasheed and Chief Mechanical Engineer (Locomotives) Majid Baig.
stopover: The Pakistan Railways administration has approved two-minute stoppage of Mosa Pak Express at railway stations of Okara and Mianchannu.
The PR spokesperson said on Saturday the decision was taken for facilitating the passengers, and would be implemented immediately.
The ill-fated freight train that was heading towards Kharian from Pano Aqil with more than 300 passengers on board met a fatal accident near Jamke Chatha, Gujranwala. At least 14 army personnel died as four bogies submerged in the canal.