The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have issued a heartfelt message of support to the Pakistani people after the deadly train fire.
The royal couple said their “thoughts and prayers” were with the families and people affected by the tragedy in which 74 people were killed and 30 more injured.
In their statement from Prince William and his wife Catherine said: “Having just returned from visiting Pakistan, we were horrified and deeply saddened to hear about the tragic fire on the Tezgam train near Rahim Yar Khan.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with all the people and families affected by this heart-breaking disaster,” the Duke and Duchess said.
The devastating fire that engulfed a train in Pakistan on Thursday morning, after a gas canister that passengers were using to prepare breakfast exploded.
William and Catherine carried out a successful diplomatic mission on behalf of the UK Government to Pakistan in which they visited Islamabad, Lahore and the foothills of the Himalayas. They also met Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Survivors of the Pakistan fire said it took nearly 20 minutes for the train to stop amid contradictory reports about the condition of the train's brakes.
Three carriages were consumed by flames from a fire caused by a cooking gas stove and dozens of people jumped in panic from the speeding train.
Conductor Sadiue Ahmed Khan said the train's emergency braking system was in perfect working order and the train stopped within three minutes after the first signs of fire.
"This is the worst tragedy in my life as a driver," he said.
Investigators said they will be looking at the train's braking system to determine its condition at the time of the fire.
Survivors recounted pulling at emergency cords that weave through the train to notify the conductor, but they said the train continued to speed down the tracks.
Ghulam Abbas, a passenger who had got on the train in the town of Nawabshah in neighbouring Sindh Province with his wife and two children, echoed other passengers who said it took nearly 20 minutes for the train to stop.
He recounted watching panicked passengers jumping off the speeding locomotive.
"We learned afterwards that most of them had died," he said.
Mr Abbas's wife, Sulai Khan Bibi, said she was horrified what would happen to their two small children.
"We were so close to death, but Allah saved us," she said, clutching the children.
The train, which was travelling from the southern Arabian Sea port city of Karachi to Rawalpindi, just 10 kilometres (six miles) from the federal capital, was carrying 857 passengers.
