21 killed in collision between two trains in Karachi
The crash occurred between Fareed Express and Zakaria Express.
KARACHI (Dunya News / AFP) – At least 21 people were killed while more than 60 sustained injuries as two trains collided with each other in Karachi’s Landhi today (Thursday).
The accident occurred when the incoming "Zakria Express" from the central city of Multan rammed into the "Fareed Express", from Lahore, as it waited at Quaidabad Station, also known as Jumma Goth, in the Landi neighbourhood of Karachi.
Witnesses described watching in horror as one train sped into the city’s Quaidabad Railway Station and rammed into the second, which was parked there, with the roar of the crash swiftly followed by the screams of people trapped inside.
Rescuers armed with metal-cutting equipment and heavy cranes were fighting to reach passengers still trapped in the twisted wreckage. They were joined by the military and police, an AFP journalist at the site of the crash said.
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A senior administration official in Karachi said there could have been up to 1,000 passengers in total on board the trains when the accident occurred.
"At the moment, we don’t know the exact number of casualties but there could be up to 1,000 passengers in both trains," Nasir Nazeer, district coordination officer in Karachi told AFP.
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Thursday’s crash was the second this year involving the Fareed Express. In February the northbound train hit a van at a crossing in southern Pakistan, killing eight people from the same family.
In September four people were killed and more than 100 injured when two trains collided near the central city of Multan.
Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that driver, assistant driver ignored signals. He said that negligence of some elements is distorting.
Will pay Rs1.5 million to compensate families of those killed in train accident, announced Khawaja Asif
The minister also assured to bring responsible for this hapless incident under justice.
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