Train Derailment Near Multan Kills at Least Seven in Pakistan

At least seven people were killed and more than 40 injured when a passenger train derailed near Multan in Pakistan's Punjab province on 13 October.

The accident occurred on the main line. Rescue teams extracted passengers from overturned carriages. Hospitals in Multan received the injured. An initial report cited by local media attributed the derailment to mechanical failure, though a full investigation has been ordered by the railways minister.

Pakistan Railways has recorded multiple serious accidents in recent years, often linked to ageing track, outdated rolling stock and maintenance shortfalls. The Multan incident is the latest in a series that has prompted calls for accelerated investment in signalling and track renewal. The exact number of carriages involved and the train's origin and destination have not been confirmed in official statements.

Provincial authorities activated emergency protocols. The injured include both passengers and railway staff. No foreign nationals were reported among the casualties in early accounts. The line was expected to reopen after clearance and inspection, though no firm timeline has been given.

Railway safety remains a persistent issue across South Asia. Similar derailments in India and Bangladesh have led to temporary speed restrictions and inquiries that sometimes take months to conclude. In Pakistan the investigation will examine track condition, maintenance records and the performance of the locomotive and carriages involved.

The death toll could rise if some of the critically injured do not survive. Families of the deceased have begun arriving at hospitals and the site. Further updates from the railways ministry and provincial disaster management authorities are expected once the site is fully cleared.