Explosion on Shalimar Express near Toba Tek Singh

Trains have been filled up to capacity due to the upcoming Eid holiday season.

TOBA TEK SINGH: An explosion took place on the Shalimar Express train ahead of Toba Tek Singh,  Express News reported on Monday.

The police in the area of Chatiyana registered the train blast case against the unidentified people responsible for the incident under various provisions of law.

Superintendent Police Qasim Khan said that the police officials were gathering evidence from the site.

Abdul Jabbar Khan SHO Railway Police Station Faisalabad Division said, "We are fully assisting the Chaityana police for investigating the Shalimar train blast and tracing out the culprits involved in the incident."

The train had started its journey from Lahore approximately three hours late.

Sources said, "Shalimar Express heading towards Karachi from Lahore."

The explosion occurred in cabin number seven of the economy class. Two cabins suffered damaged.

According to Shalimar Express officials, first aid boxes were available within the train and train managers were assisting the rescue work.

Trains were filled up to capacity due to the upcoming Eid holiday season.

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2:50 pm

The train has left for its remaining journey though passengers from the damaged cabin refused to get on-board.

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2:49 pm

“We think that this is the work of a group that wants extortion money since the bomb was not planted where the passengers were sitting," said Minister for Railways Saad Rafique.

Railway police don’t have the required resources; they do not have cars, or bomb detectors said the minister.

“We have begun an inquiry,” he added.

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2:39 pm

The blast was planted inside the train cabin's toilet. The intensity of the blast is said to be low.

Passengers were asked to sit inside the train again, though some refused and chose private transport. The train is due to continue its journey to Karachi. The damaged cabin will be dropped off at the next station.

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2:25 pm

Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique said that there have been no deaths as a result of the blast.

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1:57 pm

DPO Asif Shehzad said three injured victims are in a critical condition at the hospital.

According to the DPO, 9 people were shifted to the hospital for treatment.

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1:54 pm

Railway sources say they received calls and threats in connection with extortion money, Geo News reported.

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1:48 pm 

Death toll rises to three as one more person succumbs to injuries.

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1:43 pm

Eye witness Sonya said “We were sleeping in the cabin when the blast took place. There were many water bottles present where the blast took place; we fear the bottles may have contained explosive substance.”

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1:39 pm

Another victim succumbed to injuries, making it the second death due to the blast.

An emergency has been declared at hospitals in Faisalabad and Toba Tek Singh.

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1:32 pm 

According to railway constable, details regarding the nature of the blast are not known as of yet.

There were at least 60 people in the cabin where the explosion took place.

25 people have been reported to be injured due to the blast.

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1:28 pm

Police officials have still not reached the scene of the blast.

Passers-by are causing difficulties for the rescue operation as they are obstructing emergency path and there is no one to manage the crowd.

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1:24 pm

Rescue teams have reached the site of the blast. The injured victims are being shifted to nearby hospitals while the critically injured victims may be transferred to hospitals in Faisalabad.

A five year-old died on the spot after succumbing to injuries.

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