18 people killed as fire breaks out in Samjhauta Express

Chandigarh, Feb 19 (UNI) Eighteen people were killed and 13 other injured when a fire broke out in 4001 up Samjhauta Express at Shiva Village under Chandni Bagh police station in Panipat district early morning today.

District authorities reached the site of the accident immediately. A bomb disposal squad was also called. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained.

Bodies of the deceased were recovered and taken to the civil hospital at Paniapat alongwith the injured.

The fire was noticed in the last two bogies of the train when it reached the village about 0100 hours.

The bogies were separated from the train after the fire was extinguished by fire tenders.

Police have cordoned off the area and is unable to go inside the bogies which are still hot. ''The number of casulaties could be more,'' police said.

After separation of the two bogies, the train, which was going from Delhi to Atari in Pakistan, left for its destination at about 0300 hours.

UNI