MULTAN: At least six passengers lost their lives and 30 others were injured early Tuesday when all 14 coaches of the Rehman Baba Express came off the tracks near Sher Shah Bridge, police and rescue officials said. The Rehman Baba Express derailment triggered a large rescue operation and drew a response from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to earlier police information, the train was travelling from Karachi to Peshawar. A passenger said the accident happened at around 5:15am.
The injured were taken to Nishtar Hospital in Multan for treatment, while rescue teams stayed at the site to continue their work. Officials said 13 coaches had been cleared, with operations still under way in the last one.
Further details about the condition of the injured and the circumstances in which the passengers died were still awaited.
One passenger told reporters that workers had repaired the nuts and bolts of coach number nine near Rohri before the accident. This account has not been confirmed by officials.
The cause of the derailment has not been officially established. Pakistan Railways and other authorities are expected to share more information as rescue efforts progress.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and expressed concern for the injured passengers. He directed the relevant authorities to speed up rescue operations and make sure the injured received the best possible medical care without delay.
The latest accident adds to a string of serious railway incidents in Pakistan. In August 2023, the Hazara Express derailed near Nawabshah in Sindh, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 100. That crash renewed concerns about railway safety and maintenance across the country.