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| Pakistan train crash kills dozens | Pakistan train crash kills dozens |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A crowded passenger train has derailed in southern Pakistan killing at least 50 people and injuring up to 100. | A crowded passenger train has derailed in southern Pakistan killing at least 50 people and injuring up to 100. |
| About 12 carriages of a train travelling between Karachi and Lahore came off the rails near the city of Mehrabpur in Sindh province. | About 12 carriages of a train travelling between Karachi and Lahore came off the rails near the city of Mehrabpur in Sindh province. |
| Some carriages plunged into water. The express train was packed with passengers returning home for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. | Some carriages plunged into water. The express train was packed with passengers returning home for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. |
| Hundreds of people have died in recent years in crashes on Pakistani railways. | Hundreds of people have died in recent years in crashes on Pakistani railways. |
| Hours after the accident, rescuers were still trying to cut into at least one of the carriages and trapped passengers were heard calling for help. | Hours after the accident, rescuers were still trying to cut into at least one of the carriages and trapped passengers were heard calling for help. |
| Wednesday's crash happened shortly after 0200 (2100 GMT). | Wednesday's crash happened shortly after 0200 (2100 GMT). |
| Crash in pictures | |
| "We were almost asleep when we heard something - a big bang," passenger Shahid Khan told Reuters news agency. | "We were almost asleep when we heard something - a big bang," passenger Shahid Khan told Reuters news agency. |
| "Then I felt I was flying through the air and the carriage was tumbling to the ground. | "Then I felt I was flying through the air and the carriage was tumbling to the ground. |
| "We were grappling in the darkness," he said. "Somehow we managed to make it out." | "We were grappling in the darkness," he said. "Somehow we managed to make it out." |
| Rescue workers struggled with large numbers of casualties in the dark and cold and did not have equipment to cut open the carriages, officials said. | Rescue workers struggled with large numbers of casualties in the dark and cold and did not have equipment to cut open the carriages, officials said. |
| Many local people turned out to help, carrying the injured away on rickshaws, motor-scooters and donkey carts. | Many local people turned out to help, carrying the injured away on rickshaws, motor-scooters and donkey carts. |
| The scene of the crash was strewn with the wrecked carriages, wheels, and luggage. | The scene of the crash was strewn with the wrecked carriages, wheels, and luggage. |
| Relief trains | Relief trains |
| Local officer Ghulam Qadir told the AFP news agency: "People are trapped in the wreckage and there are cries for help. Policemen pulling out the dead and injured are drenched in blood." | Local officer Ghulam Qadir told the AFP news agency: "People are trapped in the wreckage and there are cries for help. Policemen pulling out the dead and injured are drenched in blood." |
| Khalid Amin, a senior railway official, said two relief trains had been dispatched to pick up survivors. | Khalid Amin, a senior railway official, said two relief trains had been dispatched to pick up survivors. |
| An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way. | An investigation into the cause of the crash is under way. |
| Pakistan Railways operations manager Asad Saeed told AFP news agency: "Initial reports said a welded joint on the track broke, due to contraction in the extreme cold." | Pakistan Railways operations manager Asad Saeed told AFP news agency: "Initial reports said a welded joint on the track broke, due to contraction in the extreme cold." |
| Pakistan has a history of deadly accidents on its ageing railway system. | Pakistan has a history of deadly accidents on its ageing railway system. |
| Signalling faults and poorly maintained tracks are often the cause of the accidents. | Signalling faults and poorly maintained tracks are often the cause of the accidents. |
| Correspondents say casualty figures are often so high because trains are packed with far greater numbers than for which they were designed. | Correspondents say casualty figures are often so high because trains are packed with far greater numbers than for which they were designed. |
| More than 130 people were killed when three trains collided near the southern town of Ghotki in July 2005 in the country's worst train disaster for 15 years. | More than 130 people were killed when three trains collided near the southern town of Ghotki in July 2005 in the country's worst train disaster for 15 years. |