Five passengers lost their lives and thirty others sustained injuries when all fourteen coaches of the Karachi-bound Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan early Tuesday morning, according to police and rescue officials cited by Geo News. The accident occurred at approximately 5:15 am, plunging passengers into sudden chaos as emergency services rushed to the remote stretch of track.

According to Geo News, the injured passengers were swiftly shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan for medical treatment. Rescue teams managed to clear 13 of the derailed coaches while operations continued in the remaining one, police and rescue officials stated. A passenger reported to reporters that workers had previously repaired the nuts and bolts of coach number nine near Rohri before the accident occurred, while official sources noted that the train was originally travelling from Karachi to Peshawar.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took immediate notice of the tragedy and expressed deep concern over the injured passengers, directing relevant authorities to speed up rescue operations and provide the best possible medical treatment without delay, as reported by Geo News. The official cause of the derailment has not yet been established, with Pakistan Railways and relevant authorities expected to provide further details as operations progress.

Background

According to Geo News, this tragic incident adds to a troubling series of serious railway accidents across Pakistan. The network previously witnessed a major disaster in August 2023, when the derailment of the Hazara Express near Nawabshah in Sindh claimed at least 30 lives and left more than 100 people injured, highlighting long-standing concerns regarding railway safety and infrastructure maintenance.

Why it matters

For ordinary citizens across Pakistan who rely on the railway network for affordable intercity travel, recurring accidents of this magnitude raise urgent questions about passenger safety, track conditions, and maintenance protocols. Timely rescue responses and transparent investigations remain critical for public reassurance.