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Pakistan train crash kills dozens Pakistan train crash kills dozens
(about 2 hours 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 56 people and injuring more than 120.
About 12 carriages of a train travelling between Karachi and Lahore came off the rails near the city of Mehrabpur in Sindh province. More than 12 carriages of the overnight 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. Officials say the likely cause for the crash was a faulty track.
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. Hundreds of people have died in recent years in accidents on Pakistan's railways.
Wednesday's crash happened shortly after 0200 (2100 GMT). 'Big bang'
class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7151248.stm">Crash in pictures The crash happened shortly after 0200 on Wednesday (2100 GMT on Tuesday) in a remote area, about 400km (250 miles) north of Karachi.
Policemen pulling out the dead and injured... drenched in blood Ghulam Qadir, Pakistani official
"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. 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. Some carriages were severely damaged and others came to rest in water near the track after the train slid off the embankment.
The scene of the crash was strewn with twisted metal and passengers' personal belongings.
Rescue workers struggled with large numbers of casualties - including children - 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. class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7151248.stm">Crash in pictures
Col Maqsood Ali, who was at the site of the crash, told the BBC that up to 50 people were seriously injured, and that the number of dead was likely to rise further.
Officials said the most likely cause of the crash was the track which cracked in the cold weather.
"There's a joint in the track which is welded and that has broken. It shrinks in winter," Asad Saeed, the general manager of Pakistan's railways, told Reuters.
Mr Saeed ruled out sabotage.
Relief trainsRelief 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." Hours after the accident, rescuers were still trying to cut into at least one of the carriages. Trapped passengers were heard calling for help.
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... 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.
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 they were designed for.
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 in Sindh province in July 2005 in the country's worst train disaster for 15 years.
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