ISLAMABAD: At 30 people have died and dozens sustained injuries after two passenger trains collided in southern Pakistan.

Officials said that one train derailed, causing a second train to run into it and overturn in the country’s Sindh province.

Rescue teams have brought the injured to nearby hospitals and it’s thought that several are in critical condition.

Pakistan has over the past years seen a string of deadly train accidents.

A senior official in the Ghotki district was quoted as saying that eight carriages were destroyed and that conditions were making it hard to rescue trapped passengers.

It is not clear what caused the derailment.

Hospitals in the area have been placed on emergency alert to deal with the casualties.

The incident happened early on Monday when the Millat Express coming from Karachi derailed. The Sir Syed Express coming from Rawalpindi then collided into it and overturned.

(With inpuits from BBC)