Death toll in E. Pakistan's train accident rises to 17

The death toll in Thursday's train accident in Pakistan's eastern city of Gujranwala has risen to 17 as of Friday and the search operation still continues in the canal where four compartments of the ill-fated train fall, officials with the Inter-Services Public Relation (ISPR) said.

Maj. Gen. Asim Bajwa, the Director General ISPR, the mouthpiece of Pakistani Army tweeted Friday, "Total bodies recovered till now 17. Search continues."

The accident happened on Thursday afternoon when the four compartments of the special train carrying military troops fell into the canal while crossing a bridge near Jamke Chattha area of Gujranwala, a district located in the country's eastern Punjab province.

The army confirmed that a lieutenant colonel was among the killed while local media added that another colonel, a major, a captain and a lieutenant also lost their lives in the accident.

The troops inside the train belonged to engineering battalion of the Pakistani army who were on their way to Kharian cantonment area, some 30 km away from the accident location, from Pano Aqil cantonment of the county's Sindh province for taking part in military exercises.

The special train had 21 cargo and six passenger compartments four of which fall into the stream.

Railway Minister, Khwaja Saad Rafique said the possibility of terrorist attack behind the attack cannot be ruled out as there was no apparent fault in the train or the bridge. Endi