ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: During the past five years, 537 train accidents of different classification took place of which only 313 accidents were such that led to loss of life or serious injury, the Senate was told
In a written reply submitted in the Upper House of the Parliament to a question by Senator Shahadat Awan, the Minister for Railways told that Pakistan Railways during the past five years has operated approximately 2,03,717 trains with average of about 40,750 trains per year and with an average of 107 accidents per year.
The minister told that the matter of accidents and safety is of utmost importance in railways operations and over the years incremental decrease has been brought in the number of accidents occurring due to human error; however, the issue of material failures in over aged track or rolling stock require immediate attention for rectification.
Cause of Train Accidents |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Total |
| Material Failure | 57 | 54 | 36 | 30 | 40 | 217 |
| Unmanned Level Crossing | 52 | 61 | 29 | 16 | 14 | 172 |
| Human Failure (Railway Officials) | 37 | 20 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 103 |
| Sabotage | 02 | 02 | 0 | 01 | 02 | 07 |
| Natural Calamity | 0 | 0 | 01 | 01 | 04 | 06 |
| Multiple Causes | 11 | 08 | 06 | 01 | 02 | 28 |
| Under Process Cases | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 04 | 04 |
Total |
159 |
145 |
87 |
62 |
84 |
537 |
The House was told that factorial analysis suggests that 32 percent accidents are at unmanned level crossing for which the road users are mainly responsible.
The minister further told that as a standard procedure all railway accidents are enquired into to avoid recurrence at various competent tiers of management including the highest level of Federal Government Inspector of Railways.
It was also told that during the five years of reporting a total number of 259 employees were held responsible in various degrees and were taken up and punished under Efficiency & Discipline Rules of government of Pakistan.
