At least 74 passengers have died after a train travelling between the Pakistani cities of Karachi to Rawalpindi caught fire.

Axar.az reports citing BBC.

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the fire was caused by the explosion of a gas cylinder being used by passengers cooking breakfast.

The blaze is thought to have spread to at least three carriages.

According to officials cited in local media, many of the victims died as they tried to jump off the burning train.

Another 40 people have been injured. Officials say the number of dead may still rise.