Authorities at the Pakistan Railways on Wednesday held the driver responsible for the recent accident of Quetta-bound Akbar Express colliding with a freight train at Walhar Railway Station near Rahim Yar Khan on July 11, and decided not to run more new trains owing to frequent train accidents.
According to the details, the Senate Standing Committee for Railway Affairs was briefed by the Pakistan Railways authorities on the recent train accidents in which it was recommended to install CCTV cameras inside and outside of the engine to monitor the activities. Chairman Asad Junejo presided over the committee’s meeting about the alarming state of increase in the train accidents. Federal Coordinator Inspector Railway Senator Mirza Muhammad Afridi revealed to the committee that the driver of the Akbar Express did not follow the red signal which led to the accident. “It looks like the drive was sleepy but the assistant driver also did not apply brakes,” he maintained.
Secretary Railway Sikandar Sultan Raja told the committee that it was decided not to run anymore new trains whereas a brief checkup of old ones will be conducted to review how many of them are safe enough to function. The committee sought the driver and assistant driver’s medical and mental health report.
On July 11, approximately 24 people died in the collision between a Quetta-bound Akbar Express and a freight train at Walhar Railway Station near Rahim Yar Khan.
