04 November,2016 09:10 AM IST | | Agencies
At least 20 people were killed and 50 injured yesterday after a passenger train rammed into a stationary train in Pakistan’s southern port city of Karachi, in the country’s second major rail collision in as many months
People look for victims in the wreckage of the trains. Pic/AP/PTI
Karachi: At least 20 people were killed and 50 injured yesterday after a passenger train rammed into a stationary train in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi, in the country's second major rail collision in as many months.
The accident occurred in Gaddafi town in Landhi area here at 7.18 am, when Zakaria Express crashed into the Fareed Express, which was waiting for a signal to move onto the city station in Karachi at Juma Goth Train station.
"It happened because railways officials gave the wrong signal to the incoming Zakaria Express which was coming from Multan," advisor to the Sindh Chief Minister on labour Saeed Ghani told the media.
Ghani said railway officials were trying to confirm how many passengers were in both trains but said the figure could be around 1,000.
Two bogies of Fareed Express and one bogie of Zakaria Express were completely destroyed in the collision. TV footage showed mangled and overturned carriages, and local media reported rescuers were working to free people trapped in the wreckage.
Cranes were used to clear the rubble and site and rescue passengers trapped in the damaged carriages. "Electric cutters are being used to cut through the wreckage," railways senior superintendent Jahandad said.
