Moscow: At least 40 people were killed and 65 injured today (Feb 6, 2004) when a powerful blast rocked a moving metro train in the city, officials said.

According to Emergency Situations and Disaster Management Department, the explosion took place at 08:40 hours (10:10 hours IST) in the second coach of the train going from Paveltskaya station in the centre of the town to Avtozavodskaya.

Smoke is bellowing out of Avtozavodskaya station as about 50 ambulance vans arrived there.

Rescuers were evacuating the passengers of the ill-fated train on foot along a parallel track. Train movement has been stopped along Moscow's one of the busiest metro routes.