At least four passengers were killed and dozens others injured when 14 coaches of the Rehman Baba Express, travelling from Karachi to Peshawar, derailed near Sher Shah railway station in Multan on Tuesday.
According to a Pakistan Railways information officer, initial reports put the number of injured passengers at 30. Rescue 1122, however, reported 53 victims, including four fatalities and 49 injured people.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad told Business Recorder that 22 of the injured were classified as having minor injuries, while 27 were shifted to medical facilities for treatment. The deceased included three women and one man.
The train was carrying nearly 1,000 passengers at the time of the accident, according to Rescue 1122.
Rescue services received the emergency call at 5:21am and deployed 11 ambulances, three fire vehicles and two rescue vehicles, with 70 rescuers taking part in the operation.
A relief train and a medical van from Multan were dispatched to the accident site. Multan divisional authorities and Rescue 1122 teams were also conducting rescue operations.
The operation was ongoing, according to Rescue 1122.
President, prime minister express concern
President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed concern over the derailment of the Rahman Baba Express near Multan, extending his heartfelt condolences to the families of passengers who lost their lives and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.
The president directed the relevant authorities to ensure immediate assistance and provide all possible facilities to the affected passengers. He also called for a transparent investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the derailment of several coaches of the Rahman Baba Express in Multan and expressed sorrow over the injuries sustained by passengers.
The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to expedite rescue and relief operations and ensure that the injured receive immediate and the best possible medical treatment.
Pakistan has experienced several train accidents this year, with notable incidents resulting in fatalities and injuries, alongside broader concerns about railway safety. Pakistan Railways reported 35 train accidents in the first six months of 2026, though the overall trend showed a decline.
In March, a Lahore-bound Shalimar Express collided with a goods train near Lakha Road Railway Station in Sindh’s Naushahro Feroze district. This incident resulted in one death and 13 injuries. The collision was attributed to the interlocking system being set for a loop line where a goods train was parked, combined with a malfunctioning brake and a red signal.
An internal inspection following this incident revealed that nearly 60% of the Shalimar Express’s coaches were operating without functional brakes, with 10 out of 18 coaches having serious defects, including nine with non-functional brake cylinders.
In another incident in March, multiple bogies of the Tezgam Express, traveling from Rawalpindi to Karachi, derailed near Adam Wahan station in Lodhran. Four bogies overturned, and several others derailed, injuring 25 passengers. The exact cause of this accident was not immediately determined.
A bogie of the Shalimar Express derailed at Khanewal Junction in July while en route from Lahore to Karachi. No casualties or damage were reported, and train services resumed after repairs.
Concerns about frequent train accidents and inadequate security measures were raised by the Senate Standing Committee on Railways in February 2026. The committee noted that disciplinary action had largely focused on train drivers, with senior officers rarely held accountable, and directed the Ministry of Railways to ensure all responsible officials are proceeded against.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways also sought a detailed report on the financial losses from accidents and delays in infrastructure restructuring and safety reforms.