RAHIM YAR KHAN (DNA) – Prominent politicos on Wednesday have expressed their deep sorrow on the Tezgam Express fire incident that has claimed lives of 26 passengers and left 42 injured in Rahim Yar Khan.

In a message, Pakistan Muslim league-Nawaz (PML-N) President and Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif has extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi also expressed grief over the loss of precious lives and prayed for early recovery of the injured.

Earlier today, at least 26 passengers were killed while 42 others sustained burn injuries as three carriages of a Tezgam Express caught fire due to explosion in a gas stove with cylinder near Talwari Station in Liaquatpur area when preachers belonging to the Tableeghi Jamaat were cooking breakfast.

Firefighters launched a rescue operation to douse the fire whereas the affected carriages were being separated from the train.

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

“Two cooking stoves blew up. They were cooking, they had (cooking) oil which added fuel to fire,” Rasheed told a private TV channel. “Most deaths occurred from people jumping off the train,” he added.