Monday, January 30 2006 15:16 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Islamabad: At least 46 people were killed and scores injured when a train carrying 600 passengers derailed and fell into ravine in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province last night, railway officials said today (Jan 30,2006).

The high-speed train was heading to Lahore from Rawalpindi when six compartments of the train derailed at Domeli, about 100 kms northeast of Islamabad, and plunged into a 50-feet ravine, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao said.

"The train with eight coaches and engine power-plant was derailed while negotiating a turn at Taraki between Domali and Bakarrala railway stations", officials said adding the toll was around 46.

More than 300 people have been pulled out of the wreckage of the derailed bogies. A relief train has brought the injured and survivors of the accident to Lahore. Army spokesman Major General Shaukat Sultan said army rescue teams and cranes were sent to the crash site to pull out the coaches.

Railway officials were investigating whether the accident was caused due to high speed or sabotage due to removal of fish plates from the track. The accident could be due to high speed driving while negotiating the curve, they said.

This is the second major train crash in Pakistan is less than a year. More than 130 people were killed near the town of Ghotki in Sindh last July.

President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz expressed condolence over the loss of lives in the mishap and ordered that all efforts be made to provide immediate relief to the affected passengers.

They also ordered an enquiry into the accident.