2nd LD: 2 killed, 80 injured as train falls into canal in E. Pakistan

At least two people were killed, 80 others injured and scores went missing when four compartments of a train fell into canal while crossing a bridge in Pakistan's east city of Gujranwala on Thursday afternoon, local media and officials said.

Railway Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique said that the bridge collapsed when the train was crossing it in Janki Chatta area of Gujranwala, a district located in the country's Punjab province.

He raised concerns that the incident might be an outcome of a terrorist attack as there were no apparent fault in both train and the bridge.

He said that another passenger train crossed bridge in the morning and at that time it was intact and fully functional.

The minister said that he has formed an inquiry committee to probe into the incident, adding he himself is on the way to the incident site for monitoring the rescue work.

Railway sources said that the train had 21 cargo and six passenger compartments out of which four fell into the canal.

Some media reports suggested that the cargo section of the train was carrying goods of Pakistani army.

The injured passengers have been shifted to military hospital of the city.

Pakistani army, residents and government rescue teams are taking part in the operation to pull out the stranded people from the canal.

An army helicopter and a crane are also taking part in the rescue operation.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed concerns over the incident and directed the officials with Pakistan Railways to reach the site.

He also directed the officials to repair the track in the quickest possible way to restore the railway traffic. Endi