Pakistan military train accident caused by over-speeding: Report

ISLAMABAD: Over-speeding and the driver's carelessness caused the deadly military train mishap in Pakistan earlier this month, a probe report on the accident that killed 20 people, mostly army personnel, said today.

A train carrying army soldiers and officers plunged into a canal near Gujranwala in Punjab province apparently when the bridge collapsed, killing at least 20 people, mostly army men.

A Joint Inquiry Committee of officials from Pakistan Railway, Pakistan army and other experts was tasked by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to determine the cause of the accident that took place on July 2.

The probe committee found that the train which was carrying troops was going at double the speed than allowed at the time of the accident.

"Running of the train at an excessive speed more than double the permissible speed of 30 km/h for group-1 locomotives, which facilitated increase of lateral and vertical oscillations to become violent with the result that wheels of the rear truck of the locomotive derailed inside and outside on curved track resulting in such a catastrophe, aggravated due to late application of emergency brakes," it said.

The committee besides determining the cause of the accident has also fixed the responsibility of various railway officials.

The report is based on the evidence, statements of witnesses, scrutiny of the relevant record, observations during the site inspection and discussions.

It said that after looking at various aspects of the accident, the joint inquiry committee ruled out sabotage and any involvement of mischief.

It said that assistant driver and the points-man were directly responsible for the tragedy.

The probe also found six other railway officials for indirectly responsible for the accident and recommended action under law against all of them.

The ill-fated freight train was headed for Kharian from Pano Aqil with more than 300 passengers on board when it met an accident near Jamke Chatha and four of its bogies fell into the canal.