MULTAN: At least six people have been killed and more than 30 injured after the Rahman Baba Express, travelling from Karachi to Peshawar, derailed near the Sher Shah Bridge in Multan. All the train’s coaches reportedly went off the tracks, while several overturned in the devastating accident.
Rescue Operations and Hospital Response
According to a spokesperson for Nishtar Hospital, emergency measures were implemented following the accident, and additional medical staff were called in to assist with the response. Twenty-one injured passengers are currently receiving treatment at the hospital, while one patient’s condition has been reported as critical.
Meanwhile, the Multan commissioner has confirmed that a search operation is underway for a one-and-a-half-year-old girl who went missing following the accident. According to her family, the child was lying on a berth with her mother when the incident occurred.
Accident Details and Passengers’ Accounts
Initial reports indicate that the accident occurred at approximately 5:15 a.m. Rescue teams and emergency personnel launched relief operations shortly after the incident.
The aftermath presented distressing scenes, with passengers seen sitting helplessly along the railway tracks, carrying their belongings as rescue efforts continued.
The exact cause of the derailment has yet to be established. Some sources have suggested that the train may have been travelling at a high speed at the time of the accident; however, this has not been independently verified.
A passenger claimed that the nuts and bolts on coach No. 9 of the same train had been repaired near Rohri. The claim has not been independently verified by the authorities, and it remains unclear whether the reported maintenance work had any connection with the derailment.
Government Response and Investigation
Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has taken notice of the accident and expressed deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives. He announced that compensation would be provided to passengers killed or injured in the incident in accordance with the applicable railway insurance policy.
The railway minister has departed for the accident site, where he is expected to personally assess the situation and review the ongoing rescue operations.
The Federal Government Inspector of Railways has also been directed to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the accident to determine its cause.
According to railway authorities, train operations have been fully restored via the alternative route through Lodhran and Jahanian.
Prime Minister Expresses Grief
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has also expressed deep sorrow over the train accident. He directed the relevant authorities to accelerate rescue operations and ensure that injured passengers receive the best possible medical treatment without delay.
