Initial PR report holds three workers responsible for train-car collision.

Byline: Khalid Hasnain

LAHORE -- The report of an initial inquiry into Tuesday's train-car collision has declared three lower railway employees - two gate men and a gang man - responsible for the incident that claimed lives of two newly-wed couples.

'Benjamin Franklin's famous quote that a little neglect may breed great mischief fits to the situation in the Pakistan Railways where any minor or major neglect is taken as a routine matter,' an official source deplored while talking to Dawn.

He listed several issues, including unmanned level-crossings, decaying track, faulty signaling system, outdated coaches etc haunting the railway since long, lamenting apathy of the top authorities.

According to a preliminary brief report of the PR, the accident happened due to massive negligence of the three officials -- two gate-men and a gang-man (of Gang No-14). It reveals that at the time of accident, the gate was not closed, resulting in the collision. The ill-fated car carrying four passengers (two brothers and their wives) entered the gate area to cross the line at the time when a train was about to pass from there, it added.

'We the undersigned jointly attended the site of accident of 2-down (Khyber Mail) on May 26. The train departed from Pattoki at 9:50 and struck with a car No HA-019-ICT-Islamabad at 9:52am...' reads the report.

It mentioned the gate at the level-crossing was open to traffic at the time of the accident.

'Gate Men Allah Rakha and Ahmad Sarfraz and Gang Man Mahmood Ahmad are responsible for the accident,' the report compiled and signed by three inquiry officials concludes.

The report did not mention the gravity of the offence on the part of each of the officials that led to the tragic incident.

However, another PR source revealed that all the three officials mentioned in the report had shown grave negligence in this case.

'Actually, Allah Rakha (gate man) was on duty. At 8am his duty ended, but his colleague Ahmad Sarfraz, who was to take over and perform the duty from 8am to 4pm could not reach there. Since Allah Rakha had to leave, Gang Man Mahmood Ahmad (Gang No-14), who was also there, offered to perform the duty till arrival of Safraz,' he explained. So, Allah Rakha handed over the charge to Ahmad and left.

So, he said, before the passing of 2-Down Khyber...