Missing fishplates, damaged track caused train derailment in Pakistan: report
The Hindu
Train derailment in Karachi caused by missing fishplates & damaged track, killing 31. Prelim. report states skidding of train's locomotive & "little hitting spots" on fishplates & terminal. Dissenting notes from two team members. Detailed probe underway.
The express train derailment which killed at least 31 people was caused by missing fishplates and a damaged track, according to a preliminary report of the probe into the major accident in Pakistan's Sindh province.
The Hazara Express train travelling from Karachi to Rawalpindi derailed on Sunday in Nawabshah district near the Sarhari Railway Station, 275 kilometres from the provincial capital Karachi.
"Missing fishplates and a damaged track caused the derailment of the Hazara Express, the preliminary report was quoted as stating by the Dawn newspaper on Tuesday.
Also Read | Investigators scour wreckage after deadly Pakistan train crash
“After checking from all the aspects, we came to [the] conclusion that [the] accident took place due to fresh rail broken and fishplates missing,” said the report released by the six-member Pakistan Railways inquiry team on Monday.
The team also identified the skidding of the train’s locomotive as another reason behind the derailment.
The report says the train engine had left the site without examination by senior subordinates.