Five Killed and Dozens Injured When Rehman Baba Express Derails Near Multan

Five passengers died and at least 41 were injured when the Rehman Baba Express derailed near Multan in Pakistan's Punjab province early on Tuesday. The train was traveling from Karachi toward Peshawar. Fourteen or fifteen coaches left the tracks near Sher Shah railway station around 5:15 a.m. local time.

Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Hafeezullah confirmed five deaths. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi cited information from the Multan division that placed the toll at four and ordered an investigation by the Federal Government Inspector of Railways. Rescue 1122 teams reported 49 injuries in one account, with 27 people transferred to Nishtar Hospital. At least 13 of the injured were children. Some reports put the death toll as high as seven, including a toddler.

The initial joint investigation report attributed the derailment to a technical problem in coach number 12430-6, the second coach behind the locomotive. The hanging part of the coach became stuck in the nose of a crossing at a turnout. The train was traveling at about 100 to 105 kilometers per hour, within the approved speed for the section. Driver Rizwan Abbas said the signal was clear. He felt a sudden jolt and applied the brakes, but multiple coaches had already left the rails. Some overturned.

Rescue workers and army teams reached the site quickly. Passengers were evacuated from the derailed coaches. A replacement train was arranged for those continuing their journey. The train carried more than 500 passengers. One passenger alleged that a bogie had received temporary repairs at Rohri station hours earlier, though that claim has not been independently confirmed. The minister said compensation would be paid to the families of the dead and to the injured under Pakistan Railways insurance rules.

Train derailments remain a recurring safety issue on Pakistan's network. Aging rolling stock, track conditions, and maintenance shortfalls have contributed to previous accidents. This incident occurred on a major north-south corridor. The speed of the response limited the number of fatalities compared with some past crashes, but the mechanical failure identified in the initial report points to a problem that could have been caught during routine inspection.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice and directed that the injured receive the best available treatment. Local hospitals declared an emergency. The search continued for a missing 18-month-old girl whose mother said the child was thrown from her position during the jolt. As of Tuesday evening, rescue teams were still clearing the last coaches.

The derailment adds to pressure on Pakistan Railways to address longstanding maintenance gaps. The minister has ordered a formal inquiry. Its findings will determine whether the fault was isolated or reflected wider problems with coach maintenance on the network. For the families of the five confirmed dead, the immediate concern is the official confirmation of identities and the processing of compensation claims.