Pakistan derailment kills dozens
Wednesday, 19 Dec 2007 15:29
Pakistan train derailment kills dozens
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Dozens of people have been killed in southern
Pakistan after a packed train came off the rails.
Up to 58 passengers died in the derailment with rescuers warning that the death-toll may rise owing to the serious injuries sustained among the 120 people wounded.
Fifteen of the Lahore-bound Karachi express' 17 carriages came off the rails near the city of Mehrabpur in Sindh province at 02:00 local time (21:00 GMT yesterday).
The army has ruled out the prospect of a terrorist attack, but railway officials have pledged to carry out a full investigation.
"It appears to be an accident but we have ordered an investigation to ascertain the cause," Asad Saeed said.
"Initial reports said a welded joint on the track broke, due to contraction in the extreme cold. It sometimes happens in winter."
The train, many of the carriages of which have been torn to shreds, was full of people preparing to celebrate the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Pakistan has a history of deadly rail accidents. Two years ago more than 130 people died in a three-train collision in southern Ghotki.
In 1995 350 people were killed when two trains collided outside Delhi.