Rehman Baba Express derails near Multan, killing at least five

At least five passengers were killed and dozens injured when the Peshawar-bound Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah railway station outside Multan early on 13 October. Fourteen coaches left the tracks. Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Muhammad Hafeezullah confirmed the death toll. Rescue 1122 reported five dead and 49 injured, of whom 22 received first aid on site and 27 were taken to hospital.

The train was travelling from Karachi to Peshawar at roughly 100–105 km/h, an approved sectional speed, when the driver felt a sudden jolt. He applied the brakes and stopped the train. An initial joint certificate attributed the derailment to a technical problem in coach 12430-6, the second coach behind the locomotive. The hanging part of that coach is said to have caught in the nose of a turnout. Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi ordered the Federal Government Inspector of Railways to investigate and said those responsible would be held to account. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice and directed accelerated rescue and medical care.

A replacement train and buses were arranged for the roughly 500–600 passengers. Both tracks remained blocked while clearance continued. One passenger claimed temporary nut-and-bolt work had been done on a coach at Rohri earlier; the claim has not been verified and is not part of the official preliminary finding. Some reports listed higher injury or fatality counts in the first hours; the railways CEO and Rescue 1122 figures of five dead and about 49 injured are the most consistent official numbers.

Pakistan’s railway network still relies on extensive colonial-era infrastructure. Derailments remain relatively frequent. The immediate consequence is the loss of life, the disruption of a major north-south service, and the launch of a formal inquiry into whether the coach fault was a maintenance failure, a design issue, or an isolated defect. Track restoration and any compensation decisions will follow the inspector’s report.

Place: Multan, Pakistan. Date: 13 October 2026.