Pakistan: Over 70 Dead As Massive Fire Breaks Out In Karachi-Rawalpindi Tezgam Express; Several Injured

The fire broke out on the train on Thursday after a gas canister carried by a passenger exploded, reports said.

Image Courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: In a massive fire accident in Pakistan, at least 65 people were killed and several others were injured as a fire broke out on a train on Thursday after a gas canister carried by a passenger exploded. As per reports, the fire broke out in Karachi-Rawalpindi Tezgam Express train in Liaquatpur near Rahim Yar Khan. The train, was on its way to Rawalpindi from Karachi when the fire broke out, destroying three of the train's carriages at Liaquatpur near Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab province, the Geo News reported. A Pakistan Railways official said that the fire was caused by the explosion in a gas cylinder. Some passengers were cooking breakfast when the gas cylinder exploded, the report said. After the blast, the raging fire engulfed two other coaches as well. Pakistan Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed said the fire had been extinguished and cooling efforts were underway. Earlier, Baqir Husain, the head of the district rescue service, told Geo News some of the passengers were killed when they jumped from the moving train to escape the flames. Prime Minister Imran Khan while expressing his condolences directed the authorities to ensure the provision of best medical treatment for the injured. (inputs from PTI)