Reason for the Nawabshah train accident was ‘broken track, non-existence of fish plates’

Investigative report
SUKKUR: According to the preliminary report of the departmental investigation of the train accident near Nawabshah, the derailment of Hazara Express was due to bad tracks and non-existent fish plates, as a result of which around 30 people died and many were injured.
According to the report issued by the 6-member inquiry team of Pakistan Railways, it was said that after checking all aspects, we came to the conclusion that this accident was caused by the breaking of the rail track and missing fish plates. The investigation team also stated another reason for the derailment of the train was engine slippage.
The report said that the engine of the train was dispatched without being checked by senior officials, adding that iron fish plates and wooden terminals were found broken in places ahead of the accident site.
The report said that the threat of sabotage could not be ruled out as the derailed bogies were dragged for a distance of 750 feet, however two members of the team recorded their dissenting note in the report.
A member of the team said he disagreed with the report, saying that the reason the train derailed was because two fish plates connecting the tracks were missing and the engine track due to gauge spread.
According to another team member who disputed the report, the actual cause of the derailment was engine axle jamming, which resulted in strong shocks and marks on the fishplates, aggravated by continuous jamming, which resulted in Missing fish plates bolts broken.
Regarding the said report, an official of Pakistan Railways said that it is a very preliminary investigation report, it will take some time to prepare the final report.
He said that detailed investigation is going on in this regard, Federal Government Inspector of Railways (grade 22 officer) is present at the accident site to find out the cause of the tragedy.