At least 17 people were killed and over 40 injured on Thursday when two passenger trains collided near the Pakistani city of Karachi, police said.

The collision occurred as the Zakaria Express struck Fareed Express, which was stationary, from behind between Juma Goth and Landhi Railway Station, Divisional Superintendent (DS) Railway Nasir Nazeer told DawnNews.

Nazeer said no reason can be stated as yet for the collision, reports IANS.

Administration officials at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) said 17 bodies were brought to the hospital's mortuary.

At least two carriages from the trains overturned due to the collision. TV footage showed the trains had suffered heavy damage, DawnNews reported.

Rescue services have arrived at the site, and trapped passengers were being pulled out after cutting through the mangled wreckage.

The train operation has come to a complete halt after the accident.