- President, PM express deep grief over loss of precious lives
- Sh Rasheed announces package of Rs. 1.5 mln for heirs of each died passenger while Rs 0.5 million for each injured passenger
RAHIM YAR KHAN/ISLAMABAD, October 31: At least 74 passengers were killed and 42 others injured in result of Tezgam train fire incident occurred near Talwari railway station in Liaquat Pur sub-district of Rahim Yar Khan on Thursday.
The train, Tezgam, was on its way from Karachi to Rawalpindi, when a gas cylinder carried by a passenger exploded, killing and injuring passengers in the train. The fire destroyed three of the train’s carriages, including two economy class carriages and one business class carriage.
Head of the district rescue service Baqir Hussain confirmed the news of the death toll. Hussain added the dead bodies will be identified through DNA.
DPO Rahim Yar Khan Ameer Taimoor Khan said the injured have been shifted to DHQ Liaqatpur and Bahawalpur.
Hospital sources said, 10 of the dead bodies have been identified, while 17 are unidentifiable. Some of the victims were killed by head injuries sustained as they leapt from the moving train, said Muhammad Nadeem Zia, a medical superintendent at a hospital in the nearest town of Liaquatpur. A Pakistan Railways official confirmed that the fire was caused by the explosion in a gas cylinder. Railway officials added there were more than 200 passengers travelling in the three carriages. At least 77 passengers were on board one of the carriages, while 78 others were in the other economy class carriage. At least 54 passengers were traveling in the business class carriage.
An official of Rahim Yar Khan district administration told media that three coaches of the train caught fire by burst of two gas cylinders when passengers were preparing breakfast this morning.
Incharge Rescue 1122 Bahawalpur Baqir Hussain said the fire extinguishing and cooling process has been completed, and the injured passengers were shifted to Bahawalpur, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan hospitals.
Meanwhile, Railways Minister Shaikh Rasheed Ahmed announced a compensation package of one point five million rupees for the heirs of each died passenger while half million rupees for each injured passenger. He also thanked Army Chief for participation of Pak Army troops in relief and rescue operation.
President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in Tezgam Express fire incident.
In their separate condolence messages, they condoled with the bereaved families. Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the terrible tragedy of the Tezgam train. In a tweet on Thursday, he expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Prime Minister said he has also ordered an immediate inquiry into the incident to be completed on an urgent basis.-Agencies
