Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
December 19, 2007

At least 56 Killed, Dozens Injured in Pakistani Train Derailment
----------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1AA2A19:A6F02AD83191E1603FA80A87EEDD593D2E7CA1C1B166B639& Rescue crews used
cutting equipment to free last survivors trapped in badly damaged rail
cars





Pakistani rescue workers recover an injured girl from the wreckage at
the site of train derailed near Mehrabpur, Pakistan, 19 Dec
2007Pakistani officials say at least 56 people were killed and more
than 120 injured when a train packed with holiday travelers derailed
Wednesday in southern Pakistan.

Rescue crews used cutting equipment to free the last survivors trapped
in badly damaged rail cars.

The packed train was heading from the southern city of Karachi to
Lahore when about 12 of its 16 cars came off the rails near Mehrabpur.

Local villagers helped rescue those trapped in the wreckage, before
emergency crews arrived on the scene.

Many of the passengers were believed to be heading home for the Muslim
festival of Eid al-Adha (the festival of sacrifice).

Asad Saeed, manager of the country's railway system (Pakistan
Railway), has ruled out sabotage as a cause. He said initial reports
indicate a welded joint in the track broke, due to contraction in the
extreme cold.

More than 130 people died when three trains collided in southern
Pakistan in July of 2005.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


.