An initial inspection by Pakistan Railways found that 10 of the 18 coaches of the 27-Up Shalimar Express were “dummy” units, including nine without functional brakes. Nearly 60% of the coaches had brake faults, and reports confirmed brake cylinders in nine coaches were not working during checks at Rohri. The train later crashed into a stationary freight train at Lakha Road station in Naushahro Feroze, causing derailment and major disruption.
Despite these serious technical issues, an initial inquiry blamed the driver and assistant driver, stating they failed to stop at a red signal and overshot. The findings have raised concerns, with officials questioning why faulty coaches were allowed to operate and why maintenance failures were overlooked while placing responsibility solely on the train crew.
