RAHIM YAR KHAN, Pakistan: As many as 58 dead bodies have yet to be identified despite over 30 hours having been passed since flames engulfed three Coaches of Tezgam Express in Rahim Yar Khan, a District in Pakistan’s Central Punjab Province, said a report by Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency.
The incident occurred in Liaquatpur City when a person accompanied with Tableeghi Jamaat – a religious group enroute to attend a large gathering in Raiwind – turned on the gas cylinder to cook breakfast.
But as the cylinder exploded, a fire broke out and engulfed three Economy Coaches of the train carrying 207 passengers.
Frightened by the situation, a few of passengers also jumped off the train but in the meantime, 74 persons were burnt to death and about 45 suffered injuries.
Immediately the local dwellers arrived to the site followed by rescue teams including Pakistan army personnel to extinguish the fire and retrieve the bodies from the train.
The dead bodies and injured persons were transported to various hospitals including Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Rahim Yar Khan, Victoria Hospital in Bahawalpur and Nishtar Hospital in Multan.
So far only 16 dead bodies have far been identified and handed over to their heirs while 58 yet remains to be unidentified.
The Officials said that DNA Samples of the deceased will be taken, which will help to identify them.