Fire engulfs Pakistani train, kills at least 65

People sneaking stoves onto trains to prepare meals on long journeys is a common problem, the minister said.

But several survivors questioned whether the fire was sparked by a cooking accident, telling media they believed the cause was a short-circuit in the train’s electrical system.

Television pictures showed fire and black smoke pouring from the train’s windows after it came to a stop on a stretch of line flanked by fields.

“People were jumping off, some of them were on fire,” a witness told Geo.

The death toll had risen to 65, with some victims burned beyond recognition, said the deputy commissioner of the district, Jameel Ahmad.

“We’ll have to carry out DNA tests,” Ahmad told Reuters.

Nearly 40 people were injured, many with serious burns, he said.

Credit : Sowetan