At least 65 killed as fire engulfs train in Pakistan

At least 64 people were killed and over 30 injured on Thursday morning as fire engulfed in three bogies of Karachi-Rawalpindi Tezgam train near Liaqatpur city. Photo: Pakistan Today. Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.

RAHIM YAR KHAN, Oct 31, 2019, Pakistan Today. At least 64 people were killed and over 30 injured on Thursday morning as fire engulfed in three bogies of Karachi-Rawalpindi Tezgam train near Liaqatpur city, Pakistan Today reported.

According to Rahim Yar Khan District Police Officer (DPO) Ameer Taimore Khan, women and children are also amongst the victims, none of whom have been identified yet. The dead and injured are being shifted to DHQ Hospital in Liaqatpur. Some of the injured have also been shifted to Bahawal Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur due to their critical condition.

The train was bound from Karachi to Rawalpindi. The fire was caused by a cylinder blast that occurred in the morning when passengers were preparing their breakfast, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid said in a follow-up presser.

Many people saved their lives by jumping off the train, the minister said, adding that the damaged track will be made operational within two hours.

Rahim Yar Khan Deputy Commissioner Jamil Ahmed said that members of a tablighi jamaat were traveling in the bogies.

Rescue 1122 teams have extinguished the fire and are now carrying out a cooling and search operation under the supervision of Ahmed. Army troops including doctors and paramedics have also been dispatched to assist rescue teams in the operation, a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

The military’s media wing added that an army helicopter was also dispatched from Multan in order to rescue the injured.

Prime Minister Imran Khan extended his condolences to the families of the victims and directed authorities to provide the best medical treatment to the injured.

An inquiry has been launched in the incident, a senior Railway Ministry official was quoted as saying.

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