Explosive hits India-bound Thar Express; no casualties

Islamabad: Two compartments of India-bound Thar Express train derailed after hitting an explosive device planted on the tracks in Pakistan's southern Sindh province on Saturday though there were no casualties.

At least 155 passengers  including 105 Pakistanis and 50 Indians  were on board the train, officials said.

The incident occurred near Dhabeji station in Thatta, 67 km from provincial capital Karachi, early this morning.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Railways) Aftab Memon said there were no reports of loss of life or injury in the incident.

Railway officials said the train was targeted with a low-intensity bomb.

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The incident occurred after the train departed shortly before midnight from Karachi's Cantonment railway station.

Police said two bombs were planted by suspected militants on the railway track.

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One bomb went off, damaging a portion of the track, while the second bomb was later defused.
The train continued its journey to India after authorities detached the derailed bogies.

Rescue teams were also dispatched to the site.

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In 2007, nearly 70 people, a majority of them Pakistanis, were killed when the trans-border Samjhauta Express train was bombed near the Indian city of Panipat.

Meanwhile, the Thar Express arrived seven hours late today at the Munabao station in Rajasthan's Barmer district.

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"The train with 219 passengers on board arrived at 1540 hrs at Munabao station. Routine checking and immigration process is going on at the station, and the passengers are comfortable as usual," Gaurav Goyal, Barmer district Collector, told PTI over phone.

"Out of the total number, 109 passengers are Indian and rest are Pakistani nationals," he said, adding that the train scheduled to carry passengers to Bhagat Ki Kothi from Munabao is also late due to the delayed arrival of Thar Express.

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Two compartments of the Thar Express had derailed after hitting an explosive device planted on the tracks in Pakistan's Southern Sindh province today though there were no casualties.

The train had continued its journey to India after authorities detached the derailed compartments.