Probe begins into Awam Express crash

Published September 20, 2016
MULTAN: Railway staffers repair the track after removing the damaged bogies. — APP
MULTAN: Railway staffers repair the track after removing the damaged bogies. — APP

MULTAN: Federal Government Inspector of Railways Mian Arshad reached the Buch railway station on Monday and visited the site where Awam Express had collided with a goods train on Sept 15.

The crash had left four people dead and over 100 others injured.

The FGIR also recorded statements of eyewitnesses, general public and the staff deployed at the Buch station when the crash took place. He will continue his work for two more days and record statements of drivers and other officials at the office of the railways divisional superintendent, Multan, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Our staff reporter adds from Lahore: A meeting presided over by Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique at the PR Headquarters on Monday was informed that a detailed report on the crash would be finalised within eight days or so whereas the initial report had been submitted to the Ministry of Railways.

The meeting was further informed that PR Additional General Manager Maqsoodun Nabi would assist the FGIR in the inquiry.

Taking into consideration various aspects of the Sept 15 crash, the meeting discussed precautionary measures to prevent such recurrences in future. Measures to ensure security of stations, bridges, tunnels and other installations in accordance with international standards were also discussed.

The minister directed the mechanical wing officers to prepare a comprehensive plan to upgrade washing lines so that passenger coaches could be cleaned in the shortest possible time.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2016

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