By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – The death toll from Monday's collision between two passenger trains in southern Pakistan rose to 63 as the 36-hour rescue operation was completed, officials and local media reported on Tuesday.
Over 100 passengers were also injured in one of the deadliest train accidents in recent years.
The collision between the northbound and southbound trains occurred near the Ghotki district in southern Sindh province, 526 kilometers (326 miles) northeast of the provincial capital Karachi.
Deputy Commissioner Ghotki Usman Abdullah told reporters on Tuesday that the accident occurred after rear carriages of the northbound Millat Express derailed and drifted to the parallel track, resulting in a collision with the southbound Sir Syed Express.
Footage aired on local broadcaster Geo News showed rescue workers and locals pulling bodies and the injured out and loading them into ambulances.
Another footage showed the badly damaged trains being removed from the track through heavy cranes.
An investigation was ordered into the accident.
Abdullah said that 12 more bodies were recovered, pushing the death toll to 63. Over 100 injured people were rushed to hospitals, where 25 are reportedly in critical condition.
The collision disturbed the countrywide railway traffic as several trains were stopped at different spots for hours due to damaged track.
President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed grief over the tragic accident and offered condolences to the families of the victims and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured.
"Shocked by the horrific train accident," Khan said on Twitter that he ordered a "comprehensive investigation into railway safety faultlines."
Pakistan has had a long history of railway accidents, mainly because of poor infrastructure and a lack of safety standards.
On Oct. 31, 2019, more than 70 people died in an explosion on a moving train near the Rahimyar Khan district of northeastern Punjab province, which officials later blamed on a fire caused by a short-circuit.
At least 19 members of a small Sikh community died in a collision between a bus and a train in Punjab's Sheikhupura district in July last year.
