Explosion on Pakistan rail track kills 8

KABUL’s Sindh province on Sunday.

Pakistani TV channels, monitored here, reported that the explosion happened near the Unnar Wah railway station in Jacobabad district. The Khushhal Khan Khattak Express train had three of its wagons derailed as a result of the blast.

According to DawnNews, two of the bogies were severely damaged. It quoted Pakistan Railways General Manager Anjum Parvaiz as saying it was a remote-controlled explosion planted on the track.

At least 800 metres of railway track was damaged. Sources said the injured were taken to nearby hospital on tractor-trolley. The train was going from Karachi to Peshawar.

Express News said that around 200 people were injured, some of them critically. An emergency was declared at Thul Civil Hospital, where most of the injured were taken.

Minister for Railways Khwaja Saad Rafique ordered an investigation into the explosion, directing the authorities to speed up the recovery operation. He also announced Rs0.5 million in compensation for the victims’ families.

PAN Monitor/mud

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