A fatal railway accident occurred in Pakistan's eastern Punjab province early on Tuesday morning, leaving at least five people dead and 30 others injured. The incident involved the Rehman Baba Express, which was traveling from the southern port city of Karachi to the northwestern city of Peshawar when it derailed near the Sher Shah Bridge in Multan.
According to reports, the accident took place at approximately 5.15 am (0015GMT). All 14 coaches of the train derailed, prompting a large-scale emergency response. Rescue teams were quickly dispatched to the site, and the injured passengers were transported to Nishtar Hospital in Multan for medical treatment. Officials confirmed that 13 of the coaches have since been cleared, while rescue operations remain ongoing for the final carriage.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has expressed his concern regarding the derailment and issued directives for authorities to expedite rescue efforts and ensure that all injured passengers receive immediate medical care. While the exact cause of the derailment has not yet been established by authorities, one passenger noted that workers had performed repairs on the nuts and bolts of the ninth coach near Rohri prior to the accident.
Pakistan has experienced several deadly railway incidents in recent years. In August 2023, a derailment involving the Hazara Express near Nawabshah in the southern Sindh province resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people and left more than 100 others injured.
