Five Killed and 49 Injured as Rehman Baba Express Derails Near Multan

Five passengers, including a two-year-old child, were killed and 49 others injured when the Peshawar-bound Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah railway station on the outskirts of Multan early on Tuesday. Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Hafeezullah confirmed the toll. Rescue 1122 said 22 of the injured received first aid on site and 27 were taken to hospital.

The train was travelling from Karachi at an approved sectional speed of roughly 100–105 km/h. Driver Rizwan Abbas told reporters the signal was clear when he felt a sudden push while passing through the station area. He applied the brakes and brought the train to a stop. An initial joint investigation report concluded that a hanging part of coach No. 12430-6, the second coach behind the locomotive, became stuck in the nose of a left turnout crossing. All 14 coaches derailed as a result.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi ordered a full inquiry by the Federal Government Inspector of Railways and visited the site. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed accelerated rescue and medical care. A replacement train carrying more than 500 passengers later left Sher Shah, and buses were arranged for those who preferred road travel. The down track was cleared the same day; both directions are now running on it while repairs continue on the damaged up track.

Rescue teams worked for several hours. One coach required cutting to free trapped passengers. The dead included three women and one man in addition to the toddler. Nishtar Hospital in Multan declared an emergency and received the bulk of the seriously injured. Hospital officials said most patients were stable by evening, though a small number remained in critical care.

Pakistan’s rail network has recorded frequent derailments in recent years. Much of the infrastructure dates to the colonial period and has received limited modernisation. Officials have repeatedly cited mechanical faults, track defects and signalling issues as recurring factors. The current preliminary finding points to a coach component rather than excessive speed or track sabotage.

Passengers described a sudden jolt followed by coaches leaving the rails and some overturning. One family reported that an 18-month-old girl was thrown from her mother’s arms; search teams later recovered the child’s body. Compensation procedures for the deceased and injured have been announced but not yet detailed.

The accident disrupted services on the main Karachi–Peshawar corridor. The Jaffar Express and Tezgam were rerouted, arriving late in Lahore. With the down track restored, normal schedules are expected to resume once the up track is repaired. The inspector’s final report will determine whether disciplinary action follows against maintenance crews or others.

For now the focus remains on the completed rescue and the mechanical cause identified in the joint certificate. The five deaths and 49 injuries add to a long list of rail accidents that have prompted repeated government pledges of improved safety standards. Whether those pledges translate into fewer incidents will depend on the findings of the ongoing inquiry and any subsequent investment in rolling stock and track.