Soldiers and volunteers work at the site of a train collision in the Ghotki district in southern Pakistan, Monday, June 7, 2021. Two express trains collided in southern Pakistan early Monday, killing dozens of passengers, authorities said, as rescuers and villagers worked to pull injured people and more bodies from the wreckage. (AP Photo/Waleed Saddique) — Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

In pictures: Another day, another train disaster in Pakistan

The train collision in Sindh's Ghotki district is the fourth major accident in the country since last year.
Published June 7, 2021

A train in Sindh's Ghotki district smashed into derailed carriages of another train on Monday, killing at least 40 people, in the latest accident to highlight the perilous state of the country's more than 165-year-old railway system.

Several people were still trapped in the mangled wreckage near Daharki, in a remote part of rural Sindh, which took rescue workers with specialist equipment hours to reach.

Rail accidents on the decrepit system are common. The network has seen decades of decline due to corruption, mismanagement and lack of investment.

More than 300 people were killed and 700 injured in 1990 when an overloaded 16-carriage inter-city train crashed into a stationary freight train near Sukkur.

More recently, at least 75 people died when a train caught fire while travelling from Karachi to Rawalpindi in October 2019.

Rescue workers stand as people gather at the site of a collision between two trains in Ghotki, June 7. — Reuters
Rescue workers stand as people gather at the site of a collision between two trains in Ghotki, June 7. — Reuters

Security personnel stand at the site of a train accident in Daharki area of northern Sindh on June 7. — AFP
Security personnel stand at the site of a train accident in Daharki area of northern Sindh on June 7. — AFP

Paramilitary soldiers and rescue workers move the body of a man from the site of a collision between two trains in Ghotki, June 7. — Reuters
Paramilitary soldiers and rescue workers move the body of a man from the site of a collision between two trains in Ghotki, June 7. — Reuters

Soldiers and volunteers work at the site of a train collision in Ghotki, Monday, June 7. — AP
Soldiers and volunteers work at the site of a train collision in Ghotki, Monday, June 7. — AP

Paramilitary soldiers and rescue workers gather at the site of a collision between two trains in Ghotki, June 7. — ISPR via Reuters
Paramilitary soldiers and rescue workers gather at the site of a collision between two trains in Ghotki, June 7. — ISPR via Reuters

A man verifies the name of his brother-in-law in the list of passengers who boarded the Millat Express from Hyderabad. — Umair Ali
A man verifies the name of his brother-in-law in the list of passengers who boarded the Millat Express from Hyderabad. — Umair Ali

Security personnel and onlookers stand at the site of a train accident in Daharki area of northern Sindh on Monday. — AFP
Security personnel and onlookers stand at the site of a train accident in Daharki area of northern Sindh on Monday. — AFP

Security personnel carry out rescue operation at the site of a train accident in Daharki. — AFP
Security personnel carry out rescue operation at the site of a train accident in Daharki. — AFP

Security personnel and onlookers stand at the site of a train accident in Daharki on June 7. — AFP
Security personnel and onlookers stand at the site of a train accident in Daharki on June 7. — AFP

Passengers await the arrival of trains at Hyderabad railway station following the accident in Daharki. — Umair Ali
Passengers await the arrival of trains at Hyderabad railway station following the accident in Daharki. — Umair Ali

Security personnel and onlookers stand at the site of a train accident in Daharki on Monday. — AFP
Security personnel and onlookers stand at the site of a train accident in Daharki on Monday. — AFP


Header image: Soldiers and volunteers work at the site of a train collision in Ghotki district, Monday, June 7. — AP