A Pakistani train crashed into the derailed carriages of another train more than 150 years old on Monday, killing at least 33 people.
Pakistani train crashes, leaving at least 33 dead
The death toll is likely to continue to rise as rescuers are battling people trapped in several mutilated subjects lying on the tracks in the southern province of Sindh.
A Pakistan Railways spokesman said at least 33 bodies had been taken to hospitals, including two railway officials. More than 100 people were injured, Reuters said.
An injured passenger on the first train recounted the doubling of the disaster.
“We felt like we were thrown in the garbage,” the man, who had his head covered in bandages, told a television reporter at the hospital and spoke of the initial derailment of his train.
“The second train collided with ours and caused more damage,” he said.
The Pakistan Railways spokesman said several cars from the first train fell onto the adjacent track after the derailment.
The second train, coming from the other direction, crashed into them, he added.
“The driver tried to apply the emergency brakes, but the locomotive hit the crashed cars.”
“The track has problems at several points, the cars are old, some are up to 40 years old.”
“I have told the top brass several times to please do something about it,” said railway official Khalid Latif.
Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Twitter that he was shocked by the “horrible” accident, and ordered a thorough investigation into railway safety.
Accidents on the decree system are common.
In 2005, in the same district, some 130 people were killed when a crowded passenger train collided with another at a station and a third train hit debris.
Successive governments have been trying to raise money to improve the system for years.
