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At least 64 dead in Pakistan train fire, police say | |
(30 minutes later) | |
At least 64 passengers died when a train travelling from the Pakistani city of Karachi to Rawalpindi caught fire. | |
Minister for railways, Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, said the fire was caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder being used by passengers cooking breakfast. | |
The blaze is thought to have spread to at least three carriages. | The blaze is thought to have spread to at least three carriages. |
According to officials cited in local media, many of the victims died as they tried to jump off the burning train. | According to officials cited in local media, many of the victims died as they tried to jump off the burning train. |
Another 30 people have reportedly been injured and officials say the number of dead may still rise. | Another 30 people have reportedly been injured and officials say the number of dead may still rise. |
"Two cooking stoves blew up. They were cooking, they had (cooking) oil which added fuel to fire," Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said. | |
Passengers bringing stoves onto trains in order to cook meals on long journeys is a common problem, the minister said. | |
He added that many passengers were heading to a conference organised by the Tablighi Jamaat Sunni Muslim missionary movement. | |
The accident happened near the town of Rahim Yar Khan in the south of the Punjab province. | The accident happened near the town of Rahim Yar Khan in the south of the Punjab province. |
The train running from Karachi, across most of Pakistan to Rawalpindi, is the Tezgam - one of Pakistan's oldest and most popular train services. | |
It runs daily and takes 25-and-a-half hours. | |
Pakistan has a history of railway accidents with multiple deaths. Casualty figures are often so high because trains are packed with far greater numbers than they were designed for. | Pakistan has a history of railway accidents with multiple deaths. Casualty figures are often so high because trains are packed with far greater numbers than they were designed for. |
In July, 11 people died in an accident, with four dying in another accident in September. | In July, 11 people died in an accident, with four dying in another accident in September. |
In 2007, at least 56 people were killed and more than 120 injured in a crash near Mehrabpur. | In 2007, at least 56 people were killed and more than 120 injured in a crash near Mehrabpur. |
And in 2005, more than 130 people were killed when three trains collided in Sindh province in one of the country's worst train disasters. | And in 2005, more than 130 people were killed when three trains collided in Sindh province in one of the country's worst train disasters. |