LAHORE: The Pakistan Railways administration suspended service to six 17th and 18th grade officials on Monday for showing negligence in the performance of their duties that caused a massive fire in three Tezgam Express trainers near Liaqatpur (Rahim Yar Khan district ) October 31st.
The administration made the decision in light of a preliminary investigation conducted by the Federal Government Railroad Inspector (FGIR) that presented its report to the Federal Secretary / President on Saturday night. The FGIR will present its detailed research report in the next two weeks.
Although the public relations administrator also withdrew a grade 20 officer from the work of the division superintendent, Multan, he did not mention the reason behind his transfer. However, an official source also related its removal to the Tezgam fire.
In light of FGIR's recommendations, the administration suspended the commercial officer of the Karachi Railways division, Junaid Aslam, the assistant commercial officer Ahsanul Haq, the deputy commercial officers of the Sukkar (ACO) division Abid Qamar Sheikh and Rashid Ali and the deputy superintendents of the railway police (DSP) Karachi and Sukkar Division Dilawar Maimon and Habibullah Khattak.
In addition, Amir Muhammad Daoodpota was dismissed from the position of division superintendent (Multan) and was asked to report to the Ministry of Railways. Instead, Shoaib Adil (chief traffic manager, dry port, public relations headquarters) was published as the Multan DS.
"Perhaps it is for the first time under the mandate of the Minister of Railways Sheikh Rashid that the railway authorities have taken serious action against senior officials for showing negligence that led to the tragedy of the train that left 74 passengers dead and many others injured in addition to causing the loss of millions of rupees to public and private property (coaches, luggage, etc.), "said an official source.
According to him, in the past, public relations management was going to use lower-grade personnel as scapegoats, such as drivers, assistant drivers, guards, etc. He said serious administrative, operational and security failures led to the hell on Thursday of Tezgam, as officials who were supposed to take measures to avoid such accidents apparently showed absolute negligence in the performance of their duties, ignoring the relevant laws or Standard operating procedures (SOP).
According to section 59 (1) of the Railways Act of 1890, "no passenger / person may carry with them, nor require the railroad administrator to transport dangerous or offensive goods on trains, stations, offices, etc.".
Similarly, according to article 6.5 of the coaching rate (II), "explosives, dangerous and flammable things cannot be reserved". In addition, clause 2 of the warning, as described in the Railways Act, prohibits lighting oil stoves or any type of fire inside the train compartments.
“A warning has also been issued in the interest of passengers to ensure their safety and rolling stock. There have been cases in the past in which such irregular practices resulted in loss of life, injury to passengers and substantial damage to coaches, ”the report reads.
The report says that due to the fire incident, eight trains remained trapped for approximately four to seven hours at various stations (Liaqatpur, Khanpur, Rahimyar Khan, Kot Semaba, Tarinda and Sahja) en route to their destinations.
"Although those who carried stoves and cylinders inside the train were also to blame, railway officials are also guilty of not stopping them checking their luggage when they entered the station's facilities and then the wagons of the unfortunate train." Therefore, I believe that the railway police who perform tasks at the stations, as well as inside the trains, the driving guards, the ticket examiners, the station teachers, the station assistant teachers and others are legally and morally forced to deny entry to passengers carrying such items (gas cylinders, stoves, etc.). And if they had done their duties well under business rules and standard operating procedures, they could have avoided this tragedy, ”said the official.
Published on Dawn, November 5, 2019
Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/1514964/tezgam-fire-six-officials-suspended-one-transferred