LAHORE, Pakistan — At least 74 people were killed today (Oct. 31) when multiple cars of the Karachi-to-Rawalpindi Tezgam express train caught fire.
The train run by state rail operator Pakistan Railways was finally stopped near the town of Rahim Yar Khan in Punjab province. Reports suggest the fire was started by gas cylinders brought (unofficially) onto the train by passengers to enable them to cook their own food during the 25-plus-hour, 960-mile journey.
The Pakistan government minister for railways told local media that two gas-fuelled cooking stoves had exploded, leading to the fire which spread to engulf three seated economy cars (the train also has Sleeper cars). Local media reports suggest at least 70 people were killed, some of them while jumping from the burning train, and at least 40 seriously injured.
Pakistan Railways has had several serious accidents in recent years but this is the most serious for over a decade.
— Updated Oct. 31 at 5 p.m. CDT to reflect death toll has risen to 74.
I heard the story and then saw the video of the flaming carriages. It reminded me of a scene in the 2005 remake of “War of the Worlds.”
Cooking on the train could be part of the culture. Maybe cooking on the train is technically prohibited by largely tolerated. I have South Asian in-laws. The culture is different and cooking your own food is a big part of it.
Europe and Asia has a long way to go on safety issues. Notice all the critically overloaded Indian trains where the engineer has to have a lookout to tell him what is ahead!
This long distance overnight train apparently lacked dining car service nor at least boxed meals (similar to what was offered by the Southern Railway System in America to passengers on its secondary trains). The sleeping car passengers should at least have the privilege of being served hot meals.
Mister Landey:
Very likely one did but a little baksheesh goes a long way … There are safety regulations on Pakistani trains to prevent just such things, but in that part of the world salaries are low and corruption is high. This is a personal opinion and not to be taken as an analysis of what actually happened. Regardless, people are dead, innocent people who had nothing to do with this. Pray for their souls.
The above comments are genetic in nature and do not form the basis for an attorney/client relationship. They do not constitute legal advice. I am not your attorney. Sabado es el Dia de Muertos.
And no crew member noticed the stoves and cooking gas ?????
Amtrak won’t allow you to cook on board.
This is indeed a tragedy, cultural differences notwithstanding. I couldn’t help but think of Amtrak’s current onboard dining policies and the directions in which they’re headed.
Years ago a plane returning from Saudi Arabia after the annual pilgrimage also crashed after a fire on board from someone trying to cook on board.