Seven dead as a train catches fire in Khairpur
KHAIRPUR/ISLAMABAD, April 27 (SABAH): Karachi Express caught fire in Khairpur in the wee hours of Thursday night, resulting in the death of several people including a woman and four children. The death toll in the Karachi Express fire has jumped to seven after the rescue teams recovered five more burnt bodies.
Pakistan Railways District Coordination Officer Mohsin Siyal confirmed the number of casualties.
According to media reports, police surgeon Dr. Abu Talib also confirmed the death toll, adding that six of the bodies were unidentifiable and would be handed over to their families after conducting DNA tests. He said the bodies had been shifted to the Civil Hospital, Khairpur. The cause of the fire has not yet been ascertained.
According to Pakistan Railways sources, the train traveling from Karachi to Lahore suddenly caught fire midway when one of cabins started blazing near Tando Masti, Khairpur. The accident happened near the town of Tando Masti.
The rescue operation has been completed and the fire has been put out. The authorities initially claimed that two persons lost their lives in the incident, but the figure has now jumped to seven.
Those who died included Rabia Khala, 70; Abdur Rehman, 10; Fatima, five years; Maryam, nine years; Aniba, 22 year and an old person who age was unknown.
The train was on its way from Karachi to Rawalpindi when the unfortunate occurrence took place. A Pakistan Railways official confirmed that the fire was caused by the explosion in a gas cylinder. After the blast, the raging fire engulfed two other coaches as well.
Federal Railways and Aviation Minister Khawaja Muhammad Saad Rafique took notice of the incident and ordered inquiry. In this regard, a team led by the Federal Government Inspector of Railways has left for the spot.
The accident happened at 12:30 AM in the business coach of Karachi Express. The train was immediately stopped near Tando Masti Khan Station.
The fire brigade arrived at the scene by 01:50 am. The fire was brought under control after about 40 minutes of fighting.
The railway traffic was disturbed for a short duration as trains were stopped at different stations. Pakistan Express was stopped at Khairpur, Allama Iqbal at Tandomasti, and Tezgam at Mehrabpur.