Karachi, 3 November (AKI) - At least eight people were killed when a passenger train collided with a freight train near a railway station in the southern Pakistani port city of Karachi on Tuesday. At least 35 people were seriously injured in the head-on collision near Jumma Goth, according to Pakistani TV channels quoting witnesses.

An inquiry has already been announced to probe the cause of the crash, which was not immediately clear.

Senior railway officials said the collision was caused by a "mix-up" over signals but a preliminary report blamed "driver negligence" saying the driver reacted too late to a red signal.

Local residents, rescue workers and fire and emergency workers rushed to the scene to help the injured.

Traffic was expected to be restored in both directions later in the day.

Chief minister Sindh Qaim Ali Shah and the Muttehida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party leader Altaf Hussain expressed their condolences to the crash victims and their families.