At least 20 people were killed and over 60 injured when two passenger trains collided Thursday morning near Karachi’s Landhi Railway Station.
The collision occurred between Zakaria Express and Fareed Express, Both trains had arrived in Karachi from Punjab. At least three carriages were damaged in the collision which, initial reports revealed, occurred due to faulty signals.
Railway officials gave green signal to the train coming from behind by mistake, and it went on to hit the train at rest, said Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Labour Senator Saeed Ghani.
“There could be up to 1,000 passengers in both trains,” Divisional Superintendent (DS) Railway Nasir Nazeer told a foreign media agency.
“45 injured have been brought to the hospital,” Dr Seemin Jamali, Head of Emergency Department at Jinnah Hospital said, adding that five of them are in critical condition.
Rangers and rescue teams have arrived at the site and injured are being shifted to nearby hospitals for immediate treatment. According to reports, several people are still trapped under the wreckage.
Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Foundation had earlier confirmed the deaths of 12 people.
At least two carriages from the trains overturned due to the collision. Many people are trapped under the train wreckage.
All train traffic between Karachi and the rest of the country suspended after the collision.
Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said in a tweet he was in touch with DS Railway who is supervising the emergency activities. He said an “independent inquiry” will be held to hold accountable those responsible for the incident.
I am directly in contact with D.S RAILWAY, supervising the emergency activities. Really sad over loss of precious souls.
— Khawaja Saad Rafique (@KhSaad_Rafique) November 3, 2016