Today·Emerging
Follow-up 3h ago6
93%
Pakistan's Rehman Baba Express derails near Multan, killing at least 5
The Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Railway Station in Multan, Punjab on Tuesday, killing at least five people and injuring 30 to 41 others. All 14 coaches left the tracks; rescue teams evacuated passengers and provided medical care at Nishtar Hospital. An investigation is underway to determine the cause, with authorities arranging alternative transport and compensation for victims.
Quick Facts
- Passenger train derailed with all 14 coaches leaving the tracks
- Rescue teams evacuated 53 passengers
- Injured transported to Nishtar Hospital
- Emergency declared at Nishtar Hospital
- Inquiry committee formed to investigate cause
The Rehman Baba Express derailed early Tuesday morning near Sher Shah Railway Station in Multan, Punjab, with all 14 coaches leaving the tracks. The train was traveling from Karachi to Peshawar when the incident occurred around 5:15 a.m. At least five passengers were killed, and between 30 and 41 were injured, according to multiple sources. Some reports initially cited conflicting death tolls—one official confirmed four deaths while other sources reported five—with additional human remains found on the track contributing to the discrepancy.
Rescue operations evacuated 53 passengers from the train, and the injured were transported to Nishtar Hospital in Multan, where an emergency was declared. A total of 41 injured persons were registered by Pakistan Railways, with 38 referred to Nishtar Hospital and three discharged. Among the injured were at least 13 minors. One child, reportedly a one-and-a-half-year-old girl, was reported missing in initial accounts.
Train driver Rizwan Abbas told investigators that the train was traveling at 100 kilometers per hour with a clear signal when he felt a sudden jolt near Sher Shah station. He applied brakes and brought the train to a stop, discovering afterward that the passenger coaches had derailed. Some passengers alleged the driver had been operating at excessive speed and had not reduced velocity when requested near Bahawalpur. However, the exact cause of the derailment—whether from track failure or a coach part falling onto the track—remained under investigation.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi appointed the federal government inspector of railways as the inquiry officer and announced that compensation would be paid to the deceased and injured in accordance with Pakistan Railways insurance policy. A replacement train carrying more than 500 passengers was dispatched, and alternative transport routes through Lodhran and Khanewal were arranged, though these diverted services caused delays. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both expressed condolences and directed authorities to provide medical care and assistance.
The derailment is part of a pattern of recent railway incidents in Pakistan. Pakistan Railways Chief Executive Officer Hafeezullah attributed earlier October accidents—including near-misses on the Shalimar Express and Pakistan Express on October 1—to a lack of maintenance over the previous five years. The railway system has long suffered from underinvestment, outdated tracks, and aging signaling systems. In August 2026, a coal train derailed near Firoza Railway Station, and in 2023, a derailment in southern Pakistan killed 30 people and injured more than 90 others.
Why This Matters
The derailment killed at least five and injured 30–41 passengers on a major domestic route (Karachi–Peshawar), affecting rail service for over 500 replacement passengers. Authorities have opened an investigation and announced compensation per Pakistan Railways insurance policy. The incident reflects documented maintenance deficits over five years and follows a pattern of recent railway incidents, including near-misses in early October and a 2023 derailment that killed 30, signaling systemic safety and infrastructure challenges affecting domestic passenger transport reliability.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2023
WirePrevious derailment in southern Pakistan kills 30 people and injures more than 90 others
Oct 1, 2026
WireShalimar Express and Pakistan Express narrowly escape major accidents after derailing; minor accident also occurs on Jaffar Express near Gujar Khan
Oct 13, 2026
WireTrain driver Rizwan Abbas applies brakes and stops the train after feeling a sudden jolt
Oct 13, 2026
WireRehman Baba Express derails near Sher Shah Railway Station in Multan with all 14 coaches leaving the tracks
Related Signals
Sources
- Five killed, 30 injured as passenger train derails in Pakistan's PunjabxinhuaMediaOct 13, 2026
- 巴基斯坦一列客运列车脱轨 至少五死30伤zaobaoMediaOct 13, 2026
- At least 4 killed, over 40 injured as Peshawar-bound train derails in Punjab's Multan districtDawnMediaOct 13, 2026
- 5 killed, several injured as passenger train derails in Pakistan's PunjabThe Times of IndiaMediaOct 13, 2026
- At least five killed, over 30 injured as Rehman Baba Express derails near MultanThe Express TribuneMediaOct 13, 2026
- Passenger train derails in central Pakistan, killing at least 4 people and injuring 30Click2HoustonMediaOct 13, 2026