3 killed as blast derails train in Pakistan

A blast has derailed a train in central Pakistan killing at least three people and injuring 15, officials say.

The Khushhal Khan Khattack Express was travelling from the northern city of Peshawar to the southern port of Karachi.

The explosion hit the train in the Rajanpur district of Punjab province. It is unclear if the blast occurred on the train or the tracks.

It derailed seven carriages. Rescue work is under way.

Local media reports say that a large crater has been formed under the track, hampering recovery efforts.

Railway authorities and police are investigating the incident but one report citing a police official suggested that a bomb had been placed in a train carriage.