At least four people were killed and more than 30 injured when the Karachi-to-Peshawar Rahman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah station in Multan on Tuesday, railway officials said. The railway administration said between 500 and 600 passengers were on board at the time.
So far, 13 carriages have been cleared, while rescuers are still working in the remaining ones. Officials said one carriage was being cut open to reach people inside. Track repairs will only start once the rescue is finished.
Rescue work and medical care after the Multan derailment
Rescue Multan said passengers trapped inside the coaches were being brought out. The injured were moved to hospitals, while the bodies of those who died were taken to Nishtar Hospital.
Deputy Commissioner Dr Faisal Saleem declared an emergency at Nishtar Hospital and ordered officials to speed up the transfer of wounded passengers. He also said that the district administration had begun its own rescue operations at the site.
A relief camp has been set up close to the crash site, offering accommodation, food and other essentials. Saleem said the injured were receiving the best available treatment, and an information desk has been opened for relatives. He added that four deaths and 18 seriously injured passengers had been confirmed at the initial stage.
Leaders call for transparent probe into derailment
Babar Raza, the railway department’s director of public relations, confirmed the four deaths and said an inquiry had been ordered. He said the cause of the accident remains under investigation.
President Asif Ali Zardari voiced concern, offered condolences to the families of those who died, and asked the relevant authorities to provide immediate help to affected passengers. He also called for a transparent investigation into what caused the crash.
Prime Minister Shehbaz took notice of the derailment and expressed concern for the injured. He instructed authorities to speed up rescue work and make sure those hurt receive prompt, proper medical care.
Fourth passenger train mishap in two weeks
According to the report, Tuesday’s derailment is the fourth incident involving passenger trains in the past two weeks. The earlier cases included:
- A carriage of the Pakistan Express, travelling from Rawalpindi to Karachi, derailed near Kharian on September 30.
- The following day, the Karachi-to-Lahore Shalimar Express derailed.
- The Peshawar-to-Quetta Jaffar Express also derailed on the same day.
Rescue and relief operations were continuing at the Rahman Baba Express site, and the cause of that derailment remains under investigation. This is a developing story.
