Karachi Express derails, 50 reportedly killed

Karachi, Dec 19: At least 50 people were reportedly killed and many more were injured when several bogies of Lahore bound Karachi Express derailed near Mehrabpur railway station in Naushehro Feroz district. Sources said that the express train was packed with holiday travellers and the incident took place around 2.30 a.m. on Wednesday. According to a foreign news agency about 50 passengers were killed and dozens wounded in the train accident, being transferred to nearby hospitals.

The Karachi Express train was on its way from Lahore when 12 coaches came off the tracks near the town of Mehrabpur, about 400 km north of Karachi, officials said. "So far we've taken out 32 bodies," an official with the Edhi ambulance service said.

About 100 people were hurt, railway and ambulance officials said. According to railway sources 1033 passengers were onboard the train when it departed from Karachi. The train traffic has been suspended after the mishap.

Several persons are still trapped in derailed compartments of the train and crying for help. The authorities have declared emergency at all nearby hospitals after the incident and rushed doctors and paramedics to the medical facilities.

ANI>