A speeding passenger train on Thursday rammed into a freighttrain in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province, killing at least eleven people andinjuring 60 others, according to media reports.
The Quetta bound Akbar Express collided with a stationaryfreight train at the Walhar Railway Station in Sadiqabad Tehsil of the Punjabprovince, Radio Pakistan reported.
The freight train was standing on the loop line when thespeeding passenger train instead of running on the mainline went on the wrongtrack.
District Police Officer (DPO) Rahim Yar Khan Umar Salamatsaid the deceased include one woman and eight men, while the injured includenine women and 11 children.
At least eleven persons were killed and 60 others wereinjured when the speeding Akbar Express collided with the stationery goodstrain, the Dunya News reported.
The engine of the Akbar Express was completely destroyed inthe accident while three bogies were also damaged, police said.
The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals ofSadiqabad and Rahim Yar Khan for treatment where an emergency has beendeclared, Geo news reported.
A child and a man have been rescued from the train, thereport said.
The DPO further said rescue operation is underway andhydraulic cutters have been called at the site to retrieve dead bodies, itadded.
Officials say they fear more casualties in the accident.
Prime Minister Imran Khan and President Arif Alvi haveexpressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the trainaccident.
In a tweet, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he has askedRailways Minister to take emergency steps to counter decades of neglect ofrailway infrastructure and ensure safety standards.
Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has expressed deepgrief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the accident.
He has also ordered an investigation into the incident.