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Pakistan train crash 'kills many' | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A crowded passenger train has derailed in southern Pakistan. Initial reports speak of many people being killed and dozens trapped in the wreckage. | |
At least five carriages of a train travelling between Karachi and Lahore came off the rails near the city of Mehrabpur in Sind province overnight. | |
A policeman at the scene was quoted as saying 50 bodies had been found but there is no official confirmation. | |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
The express train which overturned on Wednesday is said to have been loaded with passengers travelling home for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. | The express train which overturned on Wednesday is said to have been loaded with passengers travelling home for the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha. |
Khalid Amin, a senior railway official, told the Associated Press news agency that two relief trains had been dispatched to pick up survivors. | Khalid Amin, a senior railway official, told the Associated Press news agency that two relief trains had been dispatched to pick up survivors. |
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. | The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. |