RAWALPINDI: Police investigating into Sunday’s coaster tragedy near Kahuta, which claimed the lives of all 26 passengers, have stated that the bus owner, the bus stand manager and driver all acted with serious negligence.

The vehicle was permitted to carry people without a route authorisation and fitness certificate.

The initial investigation has also revealed serious lapses on part of the City Traffic Police Rawalpindi and the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) officials, responsible for implementing traffic rules and checking transport vehicles, issuing route permits and fitness certificates.

According to sources, the coaster had been fined two days ago and directed to appear before the RTA after 14 days as the vehicle was not fit for plying. Despite this, the traffic police was unable to check the unfit vehicle transporting passengers.

Police say vehicle was permitted to carry passengers without route authorisation, fitness certificate

Moreover, the Kahuta police have registered a case against the coaster owner, the manager of New Super Kashmir bus stand (adda) and others.

The passenger coaster travelling from Rawalpindi to Palandri in Azad Kashmir fell into a deep ditch near Girari bridge in Kahuta, seven kilometres from the Azad Kashmir boundary. As many as 26 passengers, including children and women, were on board.

A case was registered with the Kahuta police station on the complaint of Assistant Sub-inspector Shakeel Lal under sections 427, 109, 279 and 332 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), which relate to speeding and negligent driving and causing damage to life and property. The owner of the coaster, stand manager along with others have been booked under Section 109.

The complainant stated that he was on his way to picket duty when he saw the passenger Coaster (LES-744) moving ahead of him. When it reached the Girari Bridge, the vehicle fell down from the bridge while taking a sharp turn at high speed.

Locals rushed to the scene and started a rescue operation and pulled out people trapped in the wreckage of the coaster. Shortly afterwards, the emergency service Rescue 1122 crew also reached the scene.

In the accident, he said 23 passengers, including driver Arafaq Ahmed, died on the spot while three died on the way to the hospital or on reaching the hospital. Women and children were also among the dead.

Upon checking, it was found that the passenger coaster left New Super Kashmir Adda located opposite to Adil Hotel Pirwadhai Rawalpindi. The owner of the coaster was Mohammad Safir Ahmed who is a resident of Azad Kashmir.

On Sunday morning, the coaster departed from New Super Kashmir bus bay for Pallandri as the manager of the bay Abdul Qudoos issued the voucher to the driver.

During further investigation, it was found that the owner of the coaster neither had the route permit nor the fitness certificate of the coaster. The coaster’s fitness test was not cleared by the authorities concerned as the bus driver was asked to address the issue and return after 14 days.

When contacted, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kahuta Tahir Sikandar said that a case had been registered and the investigation was underway. He said that none of the passengers survived.

The DSP said that raids were being conducted to arrest the nominated persons. All aspects would be taken into account in the investigation, though the coach driver also died in the fatal accident.

It was termed the major traffic accident in Rawalpindi district. Had the coaster been intercepted by the traffic police or impounded by the transport authority when it was declared ‘unfit’, the tragedy could have been averted.

Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2024