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Pakistan train crash kills dozens | Pakistan train crash kills dozens |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A crowded passenger train has derailed in southern Pakistan, killing at least 40 people and injuring up to 100. | |
At least 12 carriages of a train travelling between Karachi and Lahore came off the rails near the city of Mehrabpur in Sind province. | |
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. |
Wednesday's crash happened shortly after 0200 (2100 GMT). Hours after the incident, many victims were still trapped. | |
'Painful scene' | 'Painful scene' |
Rescue workers are struggling with large numbers of casualties in the dark and cold and did not have equipment to cut open the carriages, officials said. | |
Many locals turned out to help, carrying the injured away on rickshaws, motor-scooters and donkey carts. | Many locals turned out to help, carrying the injured away on rickshaws, motor-scooters and donkey carts. |
Pakistan has a history of deadly railway accidents"It's a very painful scene," 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." | "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, 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. An investigation is under way. | |
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. |
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. |
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. |