At least 65 people confirmed dead  and many  injured in Pakistan train disasters after a packed passenger train blew up and burst into flames.

The train erupted in a fireball after a gas canister being used to cook food exploded. The fire destroyed three of the train’s carriages near the town of Rahim Yar Khan in the south of Punjab province.

Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told Geo TV: “Two cooking stoves blew up. They were cooking, they had (cooking) oil which added fuel to fire.

He added: “Most deaths occurred from people jumping off the train.”

Officials have said many more people are injured, some in a critical condition.

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Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid told AFP, that more than 40 injured people were being transported to local hospitals.

Authorities have warned the death toll could still rise, with the military drafted in to help rescue efforts.

People sneaking stoves onto trains in order to prepare meals on long journeys is a common problem, the minister said.