Five Killed, 30 Injured as Passenger Train Derails in Pakistan

MULTAN, Oct 13: At least five people were killed and 30 others injured when a passenger train derailed in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province early Tuesday, local media reported.

All 14 coaches of the Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan, Geo News reported, citing police and rescue officials.

The train was travelling from Karachi, Pakistan’s southern port city, to Peshawar in the northwest when the accident occurred at around 5:15 am local time (0015 GMT), according to a passenger.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene and shifted the injured to Nishtar Hospital in Multan for treatment. Officials said 13 coaches had been cleared, while rescue operations continued in the remaining carriage.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed concern over the accident and directed authorities to speed up rescue operations and ensure immediate medical treatment for the injured.

A passenger claimed that workers had repaired nuts and bolts on the train’s ninth coach near Rohri before the derailment. However, authorities have not established the cause of the accident, and the claim has not been independently verified.

Pakistan has experienced several deadly railway accidents in recent years. In August 2023, at least 30 people were killed and more than 100 injured when the Hazara Express derailed near Nawabshah in southern Sindh province, according to Geo News.