Two express trains traveling in Pakistan collided on early Monday morning, killing at least 40 passengers and injuring more than 100 others.
The Millat Express train derailed at approximately 3:30 a.m., after which the second train, the Sir Syed Express, ran into it in the Ghotki district, which is located in the southern province of Sindh near the border with India.
The conductor of the Sir Syed Express, who was slightly injured during the collision, said he braked when he saw the derailed train but wasn’t able to avoid the crash, according to the Associated Press.
“The challenge for us is to quickly rescue those passengers who are still trapped in the wreckage,” Umar Tufail, a local police chief, said.
PASSENGER TRAIN IN TAIWAN PARTIALLY DERAILS, KILLING AT LEAST 48
Authorities have not identified the cause of the derailment, though Habibur Rehman Gilani, the chairman of Pakistan’s state-owned rail company Pakistan Railways, reportedly said the portion of tracks where the crash occurred needed replacing.
Rescue efforts involved local people who rushed to the crash scene and members of the military, including troops and helicopters. Authorities also deployed machinery to cut into crumpled train cars in search of survivors.
PM @ImranKhanPTI expresses grief over the horrific train accident at Ghotki, which claimed lives of 30 passengers. The PM has asked Railway Minister to provide all-out support to the bereaved families, and has ordered detailed investigation into railway safety faultlines. pic.twitter.com/zR4BmmG642
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) June 7, 2021
The two trains together were carrying around 1,100 passengers, some of which were reportedly part of a wedding party, authorities said.
Mohammad Amin, a passenger on the derailed train, said he saw mechanics working on one of the cars before the train left Karachi, adding that he believed that car was the one that derailed, according to the Associated Press.
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Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed his grief over the loss of life on Twitter several hours after the crash. At the time, only 30 passengers had been confirmed dead.
“The PM has asked Railway Minister to provide all-out support to the bereaved families, and has ordered detailed investigation into railway safety faultlines,” Khan wrote.
