Railway minister says locomotive driver led to Gujranwala derailment
GUJRANWALA: Expressing his full solidarity with the victims of the Gujranwala train derailment, Federal Minister for Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafique late on Thursday night said engine driver was...
July 26, 2013
“The railcar driver(s) negligence led to the track mishap, which killed two people, that’s why he is at large”, the minister said after talking to the media at the accident site.
By the time Rafique arrived at the spot he Pakistan Railways had removed the derailed bogies from the track, however the crew was still in the process to getting the locomotive off the ground so that it could be sent to the railway shed for repairs.
To a question he said that as soon as a report into the incident was on my table those who were responsible for this tragedy would be taken to the task without delay.
An First Inspection Report (FIR) has been lodged against the driver(s)of the railcar on the complaint of Gujranwala Railway Station Master.
Earlier, at least two persons were killed while five others received injuries when a Rawalpindi bound 103/Up railcar derailed near City Old Railway Station.
According to railways sources, the accident came to pass when the railcar travelling from Lahore to Rawalpindi was crossing over Awami Express, which was coming from the opposite direction at Gunjranwala City Railways Station.
The sources added that the driver of the railcar failed to activate the braking system in time and four bogies derailed after the train overshot and hit a bumper post. Resultantly, the train ran over some labourers working on along the railways track, killing two on the spot while five others received multiple injuries and were rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital.
Deputy Inspector Police (DIG), District Coordination Officer (DCO) and SP Railways reached the spot and supervised the rescue operation.
Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique had ordered an inquiry into the train accident seeking a report within 24 hours.
