THAR EXPRESS ESCAPES-press news

Thar Express escapes blast near Karachi

Updated at 430 PST Saturday, December 04, 2010

KARACHI: A bid to explode Thar Express went in vain as the blast could only result in derailment of two compartments of rail at Dhabeji place near Karachi, Geo News reported Friday night.

According to details, explosives were planted at the up-track en-route to India from Karachi near Dhabeji but after the explosion, two compartments of Thar Express – a Pakistani train, derailed.

No loss of life or injury was reported in the mishap, sources said.

According to Geo News correspondent, Pakistan Railways said after completion of repairing work at rail track, the service would soon be resumed while the train service at down track remained uninterrupted.

It is pertinent to mention here that two compartments of Thar Express train, heading to India from Karachi Cantt. Station, derailed at Dhabeji place, 67 kilometers from Karachi late on Friday night after explosion at track.

There are 155 passengers including 105 Pakistanis and 50 Indian nationals on board.

Thar Express set out on journey at 11:55pm from Karachi and was an hour late due to unknown reasons.

Geo News team, rescuers, Railways and police officials, after having arrived at incident site, confirmed to Geo News that the mishap took place by dint of explosives planted at railway track which were aimed at hitting Thar Express.

Police and bomb disposal squad have seized parts of damaged rail track and explosives found from blast scene.

Investigations have been kicked off, police said