The Pakistan Railway (PR) experienced yet another tragedy when the business-class cabin of Lahore-bound Karachi Express suddenly caught fire near Tando Masti in Khairpur, killing seven passengers including a woman, while many others were injured, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Thursday.
The fire broke out in the business-class train’s coach number 17 late Wednesday night near Gambat Railway Station. The train was on its way to Lahore from Karachi.
As soon as the blaze started many passengers saved their lives by jumping off the moving train.
A woman died after leaping from the train to escape the inferno whereas charred body of another person was also found in the affected bogie, whose identity has not been ascertained, the authorities said.
Later, the rescuers retrieved four more dead bodies from the burnt-out coach, taking the death toll to seven.
Pakistan Army soldiers also joined the Railways officials in finding the cause of the blaze.
According to District Coordination Officer (DCO) Mohsin Siyal, two children of a family also went missing during the incident, but they were later found at bogie number 18.
Exact details of casualties, however, can only be determined after a thorough inspection of the affected bogie and the railway track.
On the other hand, a passenger named Colonel Ikram said that his four children, including a daughter and three sons were still missing in the incident.
The railway staff brought the fire, which was not intense, under control on their own.
Railway traffic, on the other hand, was disturbed as other trains were stopped at different stations. Pakistan Express was stopped at Khairpur, Allama Iqbal at Tando Masti and Tezgam at Mehrabpur.
Railway authorities said after detaching the affected coach, the Karachi Express was cleared to continue its journey to Lahore.
Saad Rafique forms inquiry team to probe the incident
Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique took notice of the fire incident in the Karachi Express’ bogie and formed an inquiry team to probe the tragedy.
As per railway sources, the inquiry team led by Federal Government Inspector of Railways (FGIR) will conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and will arrive in Khairpur tomorrow to determine how the fire started in the bogie.
Reporter: Imdad Buzdar