Pakistan: Passenger train derailment in Nawabshah kills 20

At least 20 people died and 40 others were injured after several bogies of the Hazara Express derailed near Nawabshah, a city in Shaheed Benazirabad District of Sindh province of Pakistan, on Sunday, media reports said.

At least 20 passengers die as passenger train derails in Pakistan's Nawabshah on Sunday. Photo Courtesy: Twitter video grab

The mishap occurred close to Sarhari Railway Station.

“Twenty bodies and 50 injured have been taken to Government Hospital, Sarhari,” Sanghar District Health Officer Faiz Mohammad Mari told Dawn News.

Sanghar Deputy Commissioner Ishaq Ahmed Gaad, who also reached the site, told the newspaper that the injured people were also being taken to hospitals in Shahdadpur and Nawabshah.

Rescue and police officials reached the site of the mishap following the incident.

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique told Dawn News: "It was either a mechanical fault or it was developed."

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah expressed grief over the loss of lives in the incident.

"Deeply grieved to learn about the unfortunate #TrainAccident that happened near Nawabshah, my heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the deceased passengers. The injured should be provided with the best healthcare facilities in the hospitals," he tweeted.