A passenger train packed with holiday travelers derailed in
southern Pakistan early Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and
injuring many others, according to local media.
The train was traveling from the southern port city of Karachi
to eastern border city of Lahore when 15 of the 17 coaches derailed
near Mehrabpur railway station in district Naushehro Feroz of Sindh
province at around 2:00 a.m. (2100 GMT Tuesday), local TV channel
DAWN NEWS quoted an official as saying.
Among the 15 derailed carriages, two were completely destroyed
and seven others were submerged in the water, said the DAWN NEWS
report.
As many as 14 bodies were found and 80 injured people have been
transferred to two local hospitals and the death toll was expected
to rise as the relief work was still going on.
Overspeeding was considered the main cause of the accident,
report said.
Police and ambulances have reached the place of the incident for
relief and rescue operation. Hundreds of volunteers from nearby
villages also joined the relief work.
Darkness, fog and coldness at the place of accident hampered
relief work.
The authorities have declared a state of emergency at all nearby
hospitals after the incident. The railway authorities have directed
other trains to stop at nearby railway stations.
(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2007)
