Death toll in train collision in Pakistan rises to 36, over 50 injured

ISLAMABAD (June 7): The death toll from a head-on collision between two passenger trains in Pakistan's southern Sindh province has increased to 36 Monday morning with over 50 others injured, local media and officials said.

Divisional Transport Officer of Pakistan Railways in Sukkur division Sajjad Wagho told Xinhua news agency that the collision took place between the Millat Express and Sir Syed Express trains in Raiti and Ubauro areas of Ghotki district.

According to the official, the Millat Express was standing still at the railway track after some of its compartments were derailed due to faults at the track, but the message of the track occupation could not reach the approaching Sir Syed Express, which eventually hit it.

District Police Officer Umar Tufail told the media that five coaches of the Sir Syed Express also derailed and turned turtle after the collision.

Local media quoting hospital official said that the death toll might rise because several of the wounded people were in critical condition.

A passenger who was traveling in one of the trains told the media that some people were still trapped in the mangled compartments.

Locals and rescue teams rushed to the site, pulled out the bodies and injured and shifted them to nearby hospitals.

Rangers, a paramilitary force, have also rushed to the site with their engineering machinery and were cutting the derailed compartments to search for bodies and the injured.

Wagho said a relief train has also reached the nearby station to shift the injured people to hospitals and help other unhurt passengers to go to another railway station to continue their journey.

He added the Millat Express was heading towards the eastern city of Sargodha from the southern port city of Karachi, while the Sir Syed Express was going to Karachi from the eastern city of Rawalpindi.

A state of emergency due to Covid-19 epidemic has been imposed in hospitals in the district.

Meanwhile, the BBC reported a senior official in the Ghotki district saying that eight carriages were destroyed and that conditions were making it hard to rescue trapped passengers.

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said he was "shocked" by the accident and promised a full inquiry. He has instructed the railway minister for a comprehensive investigation and to ensure medical assistance be given to the affected people.

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