At least four people died and more than 40 were injured when the Rehman Baba Express derailed near Multan on Tuesday, October 13. The accident happened near Sher Shah Railway Station at around 5:15am.
The train was travelling from Karachi to Peshawar when several coaches came off the tracks. Rescue teams rushed to the scene and shifted injured passengers to nearby hospitals.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi confirmed four deaths. However, Pakistan Railways spokesperson Babar Ali initially reported five fatalities.
Officials also reported different injury figures. Pakistan Railways recorded 41 injured passengers, while Rescue 1122 reported 49. At least 13 of those injured were children.
What Happened to the Rehman Baba Express?
Train driver Rizwan Abbas said the train was travelling at around 100 kilometres per hour when he suddenly felt a push.
According to Abbas, the railway signal was clear, and the train was working normally before the accident.
He immediately applied the brakes and stopped the locomotive. However, when he stepped outside, he saw several passenger coaches lying off the tracks. “It was horrible,” Abbas said.
Initial reports suggested that all 15 coaches had derailed. However, some later reports mentioned 14 coaches.
Rescue Teams Shift Injured Passengers to Hospitals
Following the accident, Rescue 1122 teams and railway officials began helping passengers.
According to Pakistan Railways, three injured passengers were discharged after treatment. Meanwhile, 38 others were referred to Nishtar Hospital in Multan.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi directed hospital authorities to provide proper medical care to every injured passenger. He also announced compensation for the victims and their families under the Pakistan Railways insurance policy.
Meanwhile, a replacement train carrying more than 500 passengers departed from Sher Shah Railway Station. Authorities also arranged buses for passengers who preferred to continue their journeys by road.
Multan Commissioner Amir Karim Khan visited the affected passengers. He directed officials to provide temporary accommodation, transport and breakfast.
Pakistan Railways also opened 24-hour help desks at major stations. These desks will assist passengers with alternative travel arrangements and ticket refunds.
Train services through Lodhran and Jahanian have now been restored.
What Caused the Train Accident Near Multan?
The exact cause of the Rehman Baba Express derailment remains unknown. One passenger claimed that railway workers had repaired nuts and bolts on coach number nine near Rohri before the accident.
However, officials have not verified this claim. There is also no confirmed evidence linking the reported repairs to the derailment. Hanif Abbasi has appointed the Federal Government Inspector of Railways to investigate the incident.
The investigation will examine the circumstances surrounding the accident and determine what caused the coaches to leave the tracks.
Recent Train Derailments Raise Safety Concerns
The Multan accident follows several railway incidents across Pakistan in recent months.
On October 1, the Shalimar Express and Pakistan Express derailed in separate incidents. Another accident involved the Jaffar Express near Gujar Khan.
Several derailments also occurred during August. These involved the Yousafwala coal train, Rawal Express, Hazara Express and Bulleh Shah Passenger.
In July, the Shalimar Express derailed near Khanewal. Other incidents involved the Bulleh Shah Passenger in Lahore and the Hazara Express near Karachi Cantt. The Tezgam also derailed between Hyderabad and Kotri on July 28.
Pakistan Railways CEO Hafeezullah previously acknowledged that railway maintenance had suffered over the past five years. However, he said authorities had started taking steps to improve the situation.
Pakistan has experienced deadly railway accidents before. In August 2023, a Hazara Express derailment near Nawabshah killed at least 30 people.
What Happens Next?
Pakistan Railways has restored train operations through the affected routes. However, the investigation into Tuesday’s accident is still underway. For now, authorities are focusing on medical treatment, passenger assistance and compensation for affected families.
The inquiry will determine what caused the derailment and whether additional safety measures are needed to prevent similar accidents.
