KARACHI: A powerful blast on a railway track on the outskirts of the city near Ghagar Phatak led to the derailment of eight bogies of Shalimar Express, killing a six-year-old girl and injuring nine passengers.

SHO Tariq Mahmood of Landhi Railway Police station confirmed the casualties.

Along with seven passengers, a driver and fireman were also injured in the incident.

The train was on its way to Lahore from Karachi’s Cantt Statation when the blast took place around 8:30 pm. It resulted in bogies going off the track and also damaged the railway tracks extensively.

Volunteers and authorities are assisting the injured passengers. The rescue operation is difficult due to the darkness and the area being difficult to access.

Talking to DawnNews, eyewitness and train passengers said that the blast was very powerful. They also lambasted the delay in rescue and relief operation.

One of the railway tracks will be opened within a period of time, while another has stopped indefinitely, an official said.

Security in Lahore as been put on high alert in the aftermath of the Karachi incident and the attack in Peshawar.