At least 65 people were killed and several others injured when a train from Karachi to Rawalpindi caught fire in Pakistan's east Punjab province on Thursday, Geo news reported.
The incident happened when a gas cylinder being carried by a passenger exploded in the passenger train, Tezgam near the city area of Liaquatpur, a Pakistan Railways official said.
Baqir Hussain, Head of the district rescue service, confirmed the death toll.
As per Geo news sources, 10 of the dead bodies have been identified. Whereas, several other dead bodies are unidentifiable.
Hussain said the dead bodies will be identified through DNA.
According to reports, the passengers were cooking breakfast when the blast occurred. Two adjoining coaches were engulfed in the raging fire.
The fire destroyed three of the train carriages, including two economy class carriages and one business class.
Pakistan Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed said: "Two cooking stoves blew up. They were cooking, they had (cooking) oil which added fuel to fire."
"Most deaths occurred when people jumped off the train," he said.
He added, men from a "Tableeghi Jammat" were travelling in the carriage where the incident occurred. "Bogies were severely damaged by the fire and they have been detached from the rest of the train," he said.
Rasheed added the fire had been extinguished and cooling efforts were underway.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, while expressing his condolences, directed the authorities to ensure the provision of best medical treatment for the injured.
This is the second major train accident in Pakistan this year. In July, 24 people were killed, when the Akbar Bugti Express travelling from Lahore to Quetta collided with a stationary freight train at the Walhar Railway Station in Sadiqabad Tehsil of Punjab province.
Bitcoin scam case: ED attaches assets worth over Rs 97 cr of Raj Kundra, Shilpa Shetty
The attached properties include a residential flat in Juhu, which is in the name of Shilpa Shetty, another residential bungalow in Pune and equity shares in Raj Kundra's name.
NASA head Nelson says China hiding military presence in space
The chief of US space agency NASA has told lawmakers in Washington that China is using civilian programmes to hide military objectives in space.
Lok Sabha poll crucial in building developed nation: CM
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha on Wednesday said that the 2024 Lok Sabha election holds significant importance in re-electing Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India for a third term and in making a corruption-free country and developed nation.
Viksit Bharat Ambassador: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar praises PM Modi, makes appeal to first-time voters
“This has made the Ram bhakts and devotees highly emotional. Lord Ram can’t be detached from our lives as it forms the core of our existence,” he said.
Bengal Governor says will be in Cooch Behar on polling day, EC opposes move
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has announced his intent to camp in the Cooch Behar Lok Sabha constituency in north Bengal on April 19, the day the constituency goes to polls in the first phase, but the poll panel has urged him to refrain.
‘Act East Policy’ to accelerate development in Northeast: PM Modi in Tripura
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that his government closed the previous Congress government’s ‘Look East Policy’ and undertook the ambitious ‘Act East Policy’ to accelerate the ambitious development of the northeastern region.
LS polls: Campaigning ends for 1st phase of voting in 15 constituencies in 8 NE states
The campaigning for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in 15 out of the total 25 Parliamentary constituencies in the eight northeastern states ended on Wednesday, an official said.
Indian American selected among 12 NASA astronaut candidates
He continued on to earn a master's degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated from the US Naval Test Pilot School.