ISLAMABAD – The death toll from a train collision in central Pakistan roseto 23 on Friday after several people succumbed to their injuries overnight,officials said.
The incident took place Thursday in Rahim Yar Khan district in Punjabprovince when a passenger train coming from the eastern city of Lahorerammed into a goods train that had stopped at a crossing.
The accident saw mangled carriages flipped on their sides and left debrisstrewn by the sides of the tracks as rescuers used cranes to enable them topick through some of the twisted wreckage.
“According to the latest updates available with us, the death toll rose to23 overnight after more people died of their wounds in differenthospitals,” a senior Pakistan Railways official told AFP.
He said a total of 73 people were still being treated for injuries.
Another senior railways official confirmed the toll and said, “rescuershave pulled out all the dead and injured from the wreckage”.
“We are now focusing on quickly clearing the track,” he said, adding thatan investigation has already been ordered.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked the railways minister to take emergencysteps to counter decades of neglect in railway infrastructure and ensurethat safety standards are upheld.
Train accidents are common in Pakistan, where the railways have seendecades of decline due to corruption, mismanagement and lack of investment.-APP/AFP