In a rare and one of the most horrifying tragedies in Pakistan Railways’ history, 73 passengers were killed, with 90 per cent of them burnt alive, and over 40 injured when three coaches of Rawalpindi-bound Tezgam Express caught fire near Liaquatpur on early Thursday morning.

According to the ministry, the fire was caused by a cylinder blast that occurred when passengers were preparing breakfast for themselves in a moving train, a claim heavily disputed by eye witnesses.

At least 40 people were reported to be injured and were shifted to DHQ Hospital in Liaquatpur. Some of the injured were also shifted to Bahawal Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur due to their critical condition.

Header image: People look inside a burnt-out train carriage a day after a passenger train caught on fire in Rahim Yar Khan on November 1, 2019. — AFP