At least seven people, including four children and a woman, were killed when a cabin of a passenger train travelling from Karachi to Lahore suddenly caught fire on Thursday morning, local media reported quoting police authorities.
Railways authorities said that the business class cabin of the train caught fire before reaching the Rohri station in Lahore.
The driver stopped the train after seeing the fire and the process of evacuating the passengers kicked off instantly, said officials.
According to reports, the rescue operation was completed when fire was distinguished.
Local media reported that the affected train resumed its journey to Khairpur after affected cabin was detached from other compartments.
Federal Railways and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique took has ordered an inquiry into the incident.
An inquiry team will reach Khairpur Thursday to investigate the cause of the fire and possible negligence on the part of officials, Pakistani media reported.
The incident happens at a time that Pakistan is facing an economic crisis amidst a rise in insurgent attacks on its security forces over the past few months. At least 12 people were killed in two explosions in Swat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this week.
