MULTAN — A devastating rail accident struck the country's transport network early Tuesday morning when multiple coaches of the Karachi-to-Peshawar bound Rehman Baba Express derailed near the Sher Shah railway station in Multan. The tragic incident resulted in multiple fatalities and left dozens of passengers injured, sending shockwaves through the country and prompting an immediate, large-scale emergency response from civil and military authorities.
According to initial reports from Rescue 1122 and railway officials, the accident occurred during the early hours when several bogies of the passenger train suddenly came off the tracks and overturned. The train, which was carrying roughly 1,000 passengers at the time of the disaster, experienced a severe jolt near the Sher Shah Bridge area. Witnesses and local accounts noted that the sudden derailment trapped numerous passengers inside the mangled coaches, sparking panic and chaos along the tracks.
Emergency response teams mobilized rapidly following the distress calls. Rescue 1122 deployed multiple ambulances, fire vehicles, and heavy-duty rescue machinery to the site, with scores of medical professionals and volunteers joining the operations. Relief trains and medical vans were dispatched swiftly from Multan to assist stranded passengers and clear the blocked tracks. Officials confirmed that the injured—ranging from those with minor cuts and bruises to individuals requiring urgent critical care—were rushed to nearby medical facilities, including Nishtar Hospital in Multan.
Railway authorities and eye-witness accounts, including statements from the train's driver, indicated that the express was moving at a considerable speed when the mishap took place. The driver reported feeling a violent jolt while navigating the tracks under a clear signal, prompting an immediate application of emergency brakes. However, the momentum caused a significant portion of the train's coaches to derail completely, tearing up tracks and paralyzing rail traffic on the main line.
In the wake of the tragedy, top government and railway officials expressed deep grief over the loss of precious lives. Federal and provincial authorities ordered a comprehensive high-level inquiry to determine the exact cause of the derailment, focusing on whether poor track maintenance, structural failure, or technical faults played a role. The Federal Government Inspector of Railways (FGIR) has been directed to carry out an independent probe to fix responsibility.
The accident has once again thrust the spotlight onto Pakistan's aging railway infrastructure and the persistent safety challenges facing the national transport grid. Transport experts and civil society members have repeatedly called for systemic overhauls, rigorous track inspections, and modernization of signaling systems to prevent such heartbreaking disasters. As rescue and rehabilitation efforts wind down, focus now shifts to supporting the grieving families and ensuring accountability within the railway administration.
