[3][4] Preliminary evidence suggested the explosion of a portable stove[5] occurred because some passengers illegally cooked food aboard the train.

Such use of gas stoves is common on Pakistan's railways; train authorities often turn a blind eye to the dangerous practice.

[7] The accident occurred at 6:18 a.m. PST[8] (01:18 UTC) on Main Line 1 in Liaquatpur tehsil, Rahim Yar Khan district, Punjab aboard the Tezgam express passenger train.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, the Pakistani Federal Minister for Railways, reported that two gas stoves exploded, setting the train on fire.

[14] Some of the 75 victims died[15] jumping from the moving train,[4] which reportedly did not stop until about 20 minutes after the fire broke out,[16] despite the communication cord being pulled.