A passenger train packed with holiday travelers derailed in southern Pakistan early Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring many others, according to local media.

 

The train was traveling from the southern port city of Karachi to eastern border city of Lahore when 15 of the 17 coaches derailed near Mehrabpur railway station in district Naushehro Feroz of Sindh province at around 2:00 a.m. (2100 GMT Tuesday), local TV channel DAWN NEWS quoted an official as saying.

 

Among the 15 derailed carriages, two were completely destroyed and seven others were submerged in the water, said the DAWN NEWS report.

 

As many as 14 bodies were found and 80 injured people have been transferred to two local hospitals and the death toll was expected to rise as the relief work was still going on.

 

Overspeeding was considered the main cause of the accident, report said.

 

Police and ambulances have reached the place of the incident for relief and rescue operation. Hundreds of volunteers from nearby villages also joined the relief work.

 

Darkness, fog and coldness at the place of accident hampered relief work.

 

The authorities have declared a state of emergency at all nearby hospitals after the incident. The railway authorities have directed other trains to stop at nearby railway stations.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2007)