(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) At least twelve army personnel, including a senior officer, were killed and around eighty others wounded on Thursday after a railway bridge collapsed and four boogies of a train carrying military troops fell into a stream near Wazirabad district of eastern Pakistan, said military.
According to Pakistan military spokesperson Lt Gen Asim Bajwa, four boogies of a special train carrying military troops to eastern Kharian city fell over a bridge near Jamke Chattha in canal.
He confirmed that twelve personnel, including Commander of a unit, Lt. Col Amir have died. Eight corpses have been recovered and search for four more bodies is underway, said media wing of Pakistan military, Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique confirmed in a statement that at least twelve army personnel were killed in the mishap and expressed fear that the death toll may rise as the rescue operation is underway.
A section of the Head Chanawa Bridge collapsed while the train was passing by the area. A relief train, carrying technical and medical staff was sent to the spot from provincial capital Lahore, while two helicopters and other rescue teams have started relief operations.
Over eighty affected passengers were rescued and shifted to the nearby military hospital in Gujranwala.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has expressed concern on the train accident and directed to mobilize all resources to rescue the injured and restoration of the track. (end)
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