Three Pakistani trains crash

A crowded Pakistani passenger train rammed into another at a station yesterday and a third train ploughed into the wreckage killing 128 people and injuring 170, officials said.

In all, almost 2,000 people were aboard the trains, a railway official said, many of them asleep at the time of the pre-dawn disaster.

Officials said the driver of one of the trains had apparently missed a signal to stop, setting the disaster in motion.

"I was sleeping. I woke up at the noise of a huge bang and then there was a big jerk and smoke all over the place," said a distraught injured passenger, Mohammad Amin.

"There was total darkness... I hit the floor and fainted," said Mr Amin, who was desperately searching for a son.

The Karachi Express, coming from the eastern city of Lahore, rammed into the rear of the Quetta Express which had stopped at a station near Ghotki town for repairs, police said.