RAHIM YAR KHAN (DNA) – At least 13 passengers lost their lives and 11 others sustained critical burn wounds in the wee hours of Thursday when three carriages of a Tezgam Express caught fire due to explosion in a gas stove with cylinder near Talwari Station in Liaquatpur area of Rahim Yar Khan, according to initial reports.

Meanwhile, firefighters have initiated a rescue operation to extinguish the fire and other passengers are being evacuated from the train to safe places. The affected carriages are being separated from the train.

At least three carriages of the train caught fire immediately after the cylinder exploded in one carriage when preachers belonging to the Tableeghi Jamaat were cooking breakfast on a gas cylinder.

Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rasheed told the media that rescue operation was underway and the track would be opened after two hours.