MULTAN, October 13, 2026: At least four passengers were killed and 49 others injured after 14 coaches of the Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah railway station in Multan on Tuesday, according to Rescue 1122.
The train was travelling from Karachi to Peshawar with nearly 1,000 passengers on board when the accident occurred, officials said.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmad told Business Recorder that 53 people were affected, including four fatalities and 49 injured passengers. Of those injured, 22 sustained minor injuries, while 27 were shifted to medical facilities for treatment.
The deceased included three women and one man. Initial reports from a Pakistan Railways information officer had put the number of injured at 30.
Rescue and Relief Operations Underway
Rescue 1122 received the emergency call at 5:21am and dispatched 11 ambulances, three fire vehicles and two rescue vehicles to the site. A total of 70 rescuers took part in the operation.
Authorities also sent a relief train and a medical van from Multan to assist passengers and support evacuation efforts. Multan divisional railway authorities and rescue teams continued operations at the accident site.
Officials worked to provide medical assistance to the injured and help affected passengers following the derailment.
President, Prime Minister Order Immediate Assistance
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed concern over the incident and offered condolences to the families of those who died. He also wished the injured passengers a speedy recovery.
The president directed the relevant authorities to provide immediate assistance and all possible facilities to those affected. He also called for a transparent investigation to establish the cause of the derailment.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the accident and expressed sorrow over the injuries. He instructed authorities to accelerate rescue and relief operations and ensure that injured passengers received immediate and the best possible medical treatment.
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Railway Safety Concerns Persist
The derailment has renewed concerns about railway safety in Pakistan, where several train accidents have occurred during 2026.
Pakistan Railways reported 35 train accidents during the first six months of the year, although the overall trend showed a decline, according to the figures cited in the report.
In March, the Lahore-bound Shalimar Express collided with a goods train near Lakha Road railway station in Sindh’s Naushahro Feroze district, killing one person and injuring 13.
The collision was attributed to an interlocking system set for a loop line occupied by a goods train, alongside a brake malfunction and a red signal. A subsequent internal inspection reportedly found serious brake defects in 10 of the Shalimar Express’s 18 coaches, with nine having non-functional brake cylinders.
Also in March, several bogies of the Tezgam Express derailed near Adam Wahan station in Lodhran while travelling from Rawalpindi to Karachi. Four bogies overturned and several others left the tracks, injuring 25 passengers. The cause was not immediately established.
In July, a bogie of the Shalimar Express derailed at Khanewal Junction while the train was travelling from Lahore to Karachi. No casualties or damage were reported, and services resumed after repairs.
Parliamentary Committees Seek Accountability
Railway safety has also drawn scrutiny from parliamentary committees.
In February 2026, the Senate Standing Committee on Railways raised concerns about recurring accidents and inadequate security measures. It questioned whether accountability extended sufficiently beyond train drivers to senior officials and directed the Ministry of Railways to pursue action against all those found responsible.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Railways also sought a detailed report on financial losses resulting from accidents and delays in infrastructure restructuring and safety reforms.
The cause of Tuesday’s Rehman Baba Express derailment had not been established in the information available at the time of reporting. A transparent investigation will be needed to determine what led to the accident and whether any safety failures contributed to it.
