RAHIM YAR KHAN: 74 people were killed and over 30 injured on Thursday from a fire in three bogies of a Tezgam train near Liaqatpur city, Rahim Yar Khan District Police Officer (DPO) Ameer Taimore Khan confirmed.
The train, Tezgam, was on its way from Karachi to Rawalpindi, when a gas cylinder carried by a passenger exploded, leaving several dead and injured.
Talking to media men, District Police Officer (DPO) Sardar Muhammad Ameer Taimour Khan who earlier put the death toll at 46 later revised it up to 74.
The fire was caused by the explosion in a gas cylinder, confirmed the Pakistan Railway officials.
The coach where the cylinder blasted was booked by the Tableeghi Jamaat’s men. They were boiling eggs on the gas stove to have breakfast when it exploded with a huge blast. After the explosion, the raging fire engulfed two other coaches also.
The fire tenders and other emergency teams immediately rushed to the site and carried out the rescue operation. Bodies and injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ).
The firefighters were deployed to extinguish the fire. Pakistan Army contingents have also been dispatched to the area to take part in rescue and relief activities.
The affected bogies have been separated from the train, said the PR official.
Aijaz Ahmad, CEO Pakistan Railways, told media that the train schedule will not be affected by the sad incident.
In a statement issued by the PM Office, the prime minister expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in the accident. PM Imran ordered to provide the best possible healthcare facilities to the injured.
Khan also tendered his condolences towards the families whose loved ones died the mishap.
