LAHORE: Six Pakistan Railways (PR) employees, whose services were suspended following the tragic Hazara Express train accident in August last year, were reinstated. However, according to a notification, they will not be assigned to roles related to train operations.

The reinstated officials, effective immediately, include Muhammad Atif, Works Manager (BS-18, formerly the works manager at the diesel workshop in Karachi); Hafiz Badrul Arfin (BS-18, formerly divisional executive engineer in Sukkur); Musharaf Majid (BS-17, formerly assistant executive engineer in Nawabshah); Muhammad Arif (BS-12, formerly permanent way inspector at Shahdadpur station); Bashir Ahmad (BS-14, power controller in Kotri); and Kanagal (BS-3, formerly Keyman, Gang No 9 in Sukkur).

These employees were suspended from job in connection with the derailment of the 11-Up Hazara Express at Sarhari Railway Station in the Sukkur division on Aug 6, 2023.

At least 30 people had died after 10 coaches of the Hazara Express derailed, falling onto the tracks and ground near Sarhari Railway Station, close to Nawabshah. The incident occurred a day after the Allama Iqbal Express narrowly avoided a major disaster when two of its bogies derailed near Padidan railway station, resulting in the suspension of traffic on the affected railway track.

Derailment had left 30 passengers dead in August 2023

The preliminary inquiry cited missing fishplates and a damaged track as significant causes of the Hazara Express derailment. The six-member inquiry team also identified skidding of the train’s locomotive as another contributing factor, noting that the train’s engine left the scene without being examined by senior staff. Additionally, “little hitting spots” were found on the iron fishplates and wooden terminal beyond the accident site. The report held the engineering and mechanical branches accountable for the incident and indicated that sabotage could not be ruled out, as the derailed coaches were dragged approximately 750 feet.

However, two team members submitted dissenting opinions, attributing the derailment to two missing fishplates, a broken rail, and engine derailment within the track due to gauge spread. They observed grazing marks on the outside of the wheel disc and noted no heating marks on the track, fishplates, or bolts.

Their assessment suggested that the derailment was caused by a jammed engine axle, leading to deep flinging that resulted in hitting marks on the fishplates. This condition worsened with continuous jamming, causing the breakage of fish-bolts due to the missing fishplates.

It is worth mentioning that the Khanpur-Kotri-Khanpur section of Main Line-1 has been in a deteriorated state for an extended period, leading to frequent fatal and non-fatal accidents. Known as the “Khooni” line in the Sukkur and Karachi divisions, this track has been responsible for numerous accidents, resulting in loss of life, injuries, and damage to railway infrastructure.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2024