Rehman Baba Express derailment near Multan kills at least five, injures 30

At least five people were killed and 30 others injured after the Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan district early Tuesday, according to local media reports.

The 47-Up passenger train was travelling from Karachi to Peshawar when the accident occurred at around 5:15am near Sher Shah Railway Station in Punjab, according to reports citing police and rescue officials.

The injured were shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan for treatment. Rescue teams and emergency personnel were deployed to evacuate passengers from the derailed coaches.

Rescue officials said 13 coaches had been cleared, while operations continued in another coach. Reports said some passengers were trapped inside the carriages as rescuers worked to reach them.

Railway officials said an inquiry had been ordered to determine the cause of the accident. The exact circumstances leading to the derailment had not been officially established.

PM, president express concern

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and directed the relevant authorities to accelerate rescue operations and ensure that injured passengers received immediate medical treatment.

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed concern over the accident, offered condolences to the families of those killed and called for assistance for the injured.

The district administration mobilised emergency services, while hospitals received injured passengers for treatment.

Passenger raises maintenance concerns

A passenger reportedly told local media that workers had repaired the nuts and bolts of coach number nine near Rohri before the accident.

The claim has not been independently verified, and authorities have not confirmed whether the reported repair had any connection to the derailment.

The investigation is expected to establish what caused the train to leave the tracks and whether any technical or maintenance issues contributed to the incident.

Railway safety concerns resurface

The accident has renewed attention on railway safety and infrastructure maintenance in Pakistan.

In August 2023, the derailment of the Hazara Express near Nawabshah in Sindh killed at least 30 people and injured more than 100 others.

Further details about the Multan accident, including the official death toll and the findings of the inquiry, were awaited as rescue and recovery operations continued.