LAHORE: Train Drivers Association (Lahore division) President Irfan Iqbal says the gateman and driver who saved Shalimar Express from a major accident were national heroes and deserved better deal.

Gateman Madad Ali and driver Abdul Ghaffar were awarded Rs 50,000 each by the Chief Executive Officer of Pakistan Railways in his personal capacity

Irfan Iqbal urged the railways and the federal government to treat the two employees as heroes for saving the lives of passengers by averting a horrible accident near Nawabshah a week ago.Talking to Dawn, the association president said in case of any rail crash the PR suffered losses to its infrastructure and rolling stock beside paying compensation in case of deaths and injuries to passengers.

“We request the ministry of railways as well as the federal government to award Madad Ali and Abdul Ghaffar a cash prize of Rs5 million (each) for saving lives and infrastructure,” he said.

Last week, the Shalimar Express escaped a major accident when a dumper loaded with gravel was stuck in tracks at a crossing near the Nawabshah railway station. The gateman’s frenetic waving of red flag alerted the train driver who applied emergency brakes to slow down the speed. The train did collide with the truck but the impact was not so serious as it did not derail.

Under the law, the PR CEO has power to announce cash prize of Rs5,000 only for efficient officials. “The CEO has power to give cash prize of Rs5000 only. That is why, the CEO, considering the nature of the incident, decided to better give Rs50,000 each from his personal pocket,” a senior official told Dawn.

He said a few months ago the PR administration had also written a letter to the ministry to revisit the existing powers of the CEO by increasing cash prize up to Rs50,000. “But no action has been taken.”

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2024