At least three people were killed on Friday when a Karachi-bound Khushhal Khan Khattak Express train was struck by an explosion on the railway tracks near Umerkot area in Rajanpur, private news channels reported.
Sources from Pakistan Railways stated that the train was travelling at the speed of 60-70km per hour when the explosion occurred. Seven bogeys of the train derailed in the explosion, two of which were overturned and three persons died in the accident while 15 more sustained injuries.
Emergency and rescue teams rushed to the blast site and the victims were shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Rescue efforts were hampered due to a large crater formed under the tracks as a result of the blast.
A relief train was also sent from Khanewal to the blast site, the sources added.
Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique condemned the attack on the passenger train and announced compensation for the victims of the blast. The families of the passengers killed in the explosion were announced to be granted a compensation of Rs500, 000 while the injured passengers would receive Rs100, 000. Rafique also ordered an immediate inquiry in to the incident and sought a report.
A search operation was also launched by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) to rule out the possible presence of any more explosives.