Pakistan railway derailment: 30 killed, almost 100 injured.

KARACHI: At least 30 people were killed and nearly 100 others injured on Sunday when several compartments of an express train derailed in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province, in the latest rail disaster to hit the country.

The Hazara Express train en route from Karachi to Rawalpindi derailed in Nawabshah district near the Sarhari Railway Station, 275 kilometres from Karachi.

Senior Railway and police officials confirmed the death of 22 passengers in the accident.

Federal Railways Minister Saad Rafiq told the media that the number of casualties could rise as some of the injured were in critical after being hospitalised.

He said around 10 bogies had derailed and the cause of the accident is being investigated.

Earlier Pakistan Railways Sukkur Divisional Commercial Officer (DCO) Mohsin Siyal said 15 out of 22 bodies have been retrieved from the wreckage and the rescue work aided by the Pakistan Army was continuing.

Earlier, Deputy Superintendent of Pakistan Railways Mahmood Rehman confirmed that at least 15 bodies were recovered from the damaged bogies.

Television channels showed the crash site with train compartments badly damaged near the station.

They showed rescue workers and police trying to pull out people from the derailed compartments along with civilians who also joined the rescue work.

“Right now, the focus is on rescue work and recovering people from the derailed compartments,” Rehman said.

He said that the cause of the accident is being investigated.

The state-run Radio Pakistan reported that the Pakistan Army and Rangers have started relief and rescue activities at the accident site.

The rescue operation has been started on the special directives of Army Chief General Asim Munir, it added.

Additional troops have been called in to assist the rescue operation.