RAWALPINDI: The Minister of State for Railways, Mian Ataullah, said here today [Feb 18] that the inquiry conducted by the Central Government Inspector of Railways into a railway accident on Karachi-Kotri section on Jan 14 had found five officials directly responsible for the accident. Releasing a 65-page typewritten report to the Press at a Press conference here this morning Mian Ataullah said that action both departmental and criminal was being taken against the five officials. The accident, which involved damage worth Rs. 4,07,034 and death of the driver of 25 Up Sind Express, its fireman, trouble shooter, and an inspector and injuries to an assistant way inspector and a passenger was due to unauthorised tampering with electrical circuit by signal staff.

The Minister further said that the Government had also decided to initiate another inquiry ... to fix responsibility on the supervisory officers... . ... The Minister said that ... responsibility for the accident could not remain confined to the lower levels of operation staff only. The senior officers, who were expected to exercise supervision and ensure that the system worked smoothly, could not be absolved... . News agencies