Nation accuses govt of killing 74 as minister blames passengers for train fire

With Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed blaming passengers for the train fire that killed at least 74 near Rahim Yar Khan, people across the country have stepped up to condemn the minister’s remarks and accuse Pakistan Railways (PR) of criminal negligence.

The train, Tezgam, was on its way from Karachi to Rawalpindi when a gas cylinder carried by a passenger exploded, resulting in hundreds of casualties on Thursday morning. The fire destroyed three of the train’s carriages, including two economy class and one business class carriage.

“It isn’t PR’s fault and passengers are to be blamed for it,” the minister said while speaking to journalists after the tragedy left the nation shaken.

“It is unfortunate that passengers take cylinders with them. They don’t fear the law,” he said, adding that several people jumped to their deaths from the burning train.

While Rasheed promised an inquiry to ascertain how the passengers had managed to carry cylinders with them, his statements were not very well received by the people.

Sad incident #tezgam but even sadder is Sheikh Rasheed saying the incident which has cost 70 plus lives is due to the people travelling, @ImranKhanPTI time you implement the statement of Britians minister and seek resignation of your minister, Be the change you talk about

— Adeel Raja (@adeelraja) October 31, 2019

“Be the change you talk about,” journalist Adeel Raja tweeted while urging Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to sack the minister. There has been a significant increase in the number of train mishaps ever since Rasheed was handed the reins of PR. Hundreds of casualties have been reported in derailings and collisions.

Senior journalist and analyst Moeed Pirzada pointed out that the train didn’t have any fire-fighting equipment and the staff appeared to have no training to deal with such untoward situations.

Tez Gam Tragedy: Now we are getting the full picture. Amir Hussian of Tabligee Jammat booked two baggies, Railway Staff ignored when they carried "Gas Stoves", no education to understand that "Gas Stoves" on a running train will be dangerous, & no fire fighting capacity on trains https://t.co/c2rr8brIR4

— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) October 31, 2019

Retweeting his colleague Rauf Klasra’s statement, Moeed also accused PR of incompetence and criminal negligence over its failure to bar passengers from carrying gas stoves with them as per the rules.

Klasra is right! When gas cylinders/stoves are not allowed inside trains, then its Railway's incompetence & negligence that such gas stoves are carried inside. Will "Tez Gam" Tragedy force Railways to become an intelligent well governed organisation? https://t.co/1zklMT6R17

— Moeed Pirzada (@MoeedNj) October 31, 2019

Meanwhile, an eyewitness has claimed that the fire was caused by a short circuit in one of the bogies’ fans.

Tablighi Jamaat eye witness on Tezgam contradicts claim of Sheikh Rasheed that Tablighi Jamaat members were responsible for the fire. Says fire caused by short circuit and safety system of the train was completely dysfunctional. pic.twitter.com/cbQzoG9UOE

— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) October 31, 2019

“The train kept moving even when it was on fire and there were no emergency facilities available inside the train,” the witness said as he blamed PR authorities for not taking complaints of the passengers seriously.