MULTAN: At least five passengers were killed and more than 30 injured after 14 coaches of the Karachi-to-Peshawar Rahman Baba Express derailed near Multan on Tuesday, according to railway officials. A one-and-a-half-year-old girl was also reported missing following the accident.
Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene, while Pakistan Railways sent a relief train and a medical van from Multan to assist passengers. Railway traffic on both tracks was suspended, disrupting train services passing through the city.
Multan Division railway officials reached the accident site, and an inquiry committee was formed to determine the cause of the derailment. Initial reports indicated that most passengers aboard the train were travelling from Karachi.
Rescue Operation Underway as Hospital Declares Emergency
Rescue teams evacuated 53 passengers from the train as emergency services worked to assist those affected by the derailment.
The administration of Nishtar Hospital in Multan declared an emergency to accommodate the injured. According to a hospital spokesperson, 25 injured passengers had been transferred to the facility, including three who were brought in dead.
One injured patient was reported to be in critical condition, while 21 others were receiving medical treatment.
The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, and vice chancellor, Dr Mehnaz Khakwani, visited the emergency ward to review medical arrangements. Additional staff were called in to support the response, and hospital officials said the injured were being provided with the best possible medical care.
Meanwhile, the search for the missing toddler remained a key concern for those responding to the incident.
Cause of Derailment Yet to Be Determined
According to the train’s guard in charge, the driver felt a sudden jolt near Sher Shah shortly before several coaches derailed.
Officials have not yet established whether the accident resulted from a defect in the railway track or a component from one of the coaches falling onto the tracks.
Some passengers alleged that the train had been travelling at excessive speed. They claimed they had asked the driver to slow down near Bahawalpur after passengers in the fourth and fifth coaches experienced severe jolts. According to their accounts, the train’s speed was not reduced.
However, the Divisional Superintendent of Railways in Multan said it was too early to determine the cause. The inquiry committee will investigate the circumstances surrounding the derailment.
Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi was also expected to arrive in Multan to assess the situation and review the response.
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Train Services Disrupted Across Multan Division
The derailment brought train traffic on both railway tracks to a halt, affecting services passing through Multan.
Railway cranes were deployed to remove the derailed coaches, a process expected to take several hours. Until the tracks are cleared, trains travelling through the affected area are to be diverted via alternative routes through Lodhran and Khanewal.
The diversions are likely to cause delays for passengers, while railway officials continue restoration work at the accident site.
Authorities have formed an inquiry committee to establish what caused the derailment and determine whether any operational or technical failures contributed to the incident.
President Zardari Calls for Transparent Investigation
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed concern over the accident and offered condolences to the families of those killed. He also wished the injured passengers a speedy recovery.
The president directed the relevant authorities to provide all possible assistance and facilities to those affected and called for a transparent investigation to establish the cause of the derailment.
Separately, Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi expressed grief over the loss of life, extended sympathies to the bereaved families and instructed officials to ensure appropriate medical treatment for the injured.
Abbasi said compensation would be provided to deceased and injured passengers in accordance with the railway insurance policy. He also directed the Federal Government Inspector of Railways to investigate the accident.
صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا ملتان کے قریب رحمان بابا ایکسپریس کے پٹڑی سے اترنے کے واقعے پر اظہارِ تشویش۔
صدرِ مملکت کا حادثے میں جاں بحق ہونے والے مسافروں کے اہلِ خانہ سے دلی تعزیت و ہمدردی اورزخمی مسافروں کی جلد صحت یابی کے لیے نیک تمناؤں کا اظہار۔
صدرِ مملکت کی متعلقہ حکام کو متاثرہ مسافروں کی امداد اور ہر ممکن سہولیات کی فراہمی یقینی بنانے کی ہدایت۔
حادثے کی وجوہات کا تعین کرنے کے لیے شفاف تحقیقات کروائی جائیں: صدر
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) October 13, 2026
Pakistan Railways Faces Continuing Safety Concerns
The derailment has renewed concerns about the safety of Pakistan’s railway network, which has experienced repeated incidents involving passenger and freight trains.
A report published in April 2026 said more than 20 railway accidents had occurred since the beginning of that year, including derailments, collisions and mechanical failures. Among the incidents cited were the Tezgam Express derailment near Lodhran, the Shalimar Express collision with a stationary freight train near Rohri, and the Karakoram Express separating into two sections near Khanewal after a coupling failure.
Pakistan Railways reported 95 accidents between January 1 and December 20, 2025, according to a report released that December. The incidents included 46 passenger-train derailments and 43 freight-train derailments.
Reports have also highlighted concerns about ageing railway infrastructure. A May 2025 report stated that more than 6,500 kilometres of track had exceeded its natural lifespan, with experts pointing to track alignment, safety procedures and insufficient investment in modernisation as issues requiring attention.
As rescue and recovery efforts continue near Multan, the immediate priorities remain assisting affected passengers, locating the missing child, restoring railway operations and determining the cause of the accident.
