At least five passengers have died and 30 others have been injured when all 14 coaches of the Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan early Tuesday.
According to reports, the train was travelling from Karachi to Peshawar. A passenger said that the accident happened at around 5:15am.
Rescuers took the injured to Nishtar Hospital in Multan. Rescue officials have said teams had cleared 13 coaches, but were still working in the last one.
A passenger told reporters that workers had repaired the nuts and bolts of coach number nine near Rohri before the accident.
Officials have not yet given further details on the condition of the injured or the circumstances of the deaths. They have not established the cause of the derailment. Pakistan Railways and other authorities are expected to share more information as rescue work continues.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and expressed concern for the injured. He told the relevant authorities to speed up rescue operations and give the injured the best possible medical treatment without delay.
In August 2023, the Hazara Express derailed near Nawabshah in Sindh, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 100. The crash raised fresh concerns about railway safety and maintenance.
