MULTAN: The driver of Awam Express which collided with a freight train at Buch station on Thursday changed his statement on Friday and said the signal was yellow instead of red.

On Thursday, Abdul Rauf Shamon had dismissed senior railway officials apprehensions that he had overshot the signal and claimed the signal was green.

Talking to media from an unidentified location on Friday, Shamon along with his assistance driver Qaisar, said that new traffic system introduced by the Pakistan Railways --- computer-based interlock (CBI) --- on a trial basis was complicated and no driver could comprehend it. He claimed the drivers had not been trained accordingly. He said that the tail lamp of the stationary freight train was not visible. When he spotted the train, he applied emergency brakes to minimise the damage.

Shamon said he remained in the engine and tried his best to control the train and jumped a moment before the collision. He said that he would prove in the inquiry that the new signalling system had flaws.

FIR: The first information report of the crash was lodged with the Shujaabad City police station by guard Nisar Ahmad.

The Fedral Government Inspector for Railways Mian Muhammad Arshad has launched an inquiry. He has requested eye witnesses and general public to record their statements with proof. He will record statements at the Buch station on Sept 19 and at the Railways divisional superintendent office in Multan on Sept 20 and 21.

Meanwhile, 22 out of 34 injured passengers admitted to Nishtar Hospital have been discharged. Railways spokesman in Multan Rao Tasleem told APP that eight patients declared critical on Thursday were now stable. Two seriously injured passengers who were admitted to the ICU had now been shifted to wards.

Divisional Commercial Officer Tahir Marwat told APP that investigation proceedings would cover all aspects.

When asked whether the driver of Awam Express was responsible for negligence in the trains collision, he said that no body had yet been held responsible.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2016