Husain Mohamed – Radio Islam News – 31.10.19

A train fire is reported to have killed atleast 65 passengers and injured scores more.

The train was travelling through central Pakistan from the southern city of Karachi to Rawalpindi. The fire destroyed three of the train’s carriages as it approached the town of Liaquatpur in Punjab.

SkyNews reports that the fire engulfed after a gas canister passengers were using to cook breakfast exploded. It is said that passengers often bring their own gas canisters onboard as some trains do not comprise of any facilities to provide passengers with food during long trips.

Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed says rescue operations are underway.

“The injured have been taken to the hospital, but unfortunately there is no nearby hospital with a burn unit so we are trying to get them by helicopter to Multan.”

 Safety regulations are often ignored on such overcrowded trains.

SkyNews