At least 65 people have died and many more are injured in
Pakistan after a packed passenger train blew up and burst into flames.
The train erupted in
a fireball after a gas canister being used to cook food exploded. The fire
destroyed three of the train’s carriages near the town of Rahim Yar Khan in the
south of Punjab province.
Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told Geo TV:
"Two cooking stoves blew up. They were cooking, they had (cooking) oil
which added fuel to fire.
He added: "Most
deaths occurred from people jumping off the train."
Officials have said many more people are injured, some in a
critical condition.
Punjab health
minister Dr Yasmin Rashid told AFP that more than 40 injured people were being
transported to local hospitals.
Authorities have
warned the death toll could still rise, with the military drafted in to help
rescue efforts.
People sneaking stoves onto trains in order to prepare meals
on long journeys is a common problem, the minister said.
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