World

Rehman Baba Express Derails Near Multan, Four Dead, Several Injured

By Swati Gandhi

A passenger train, the Rehman Baba Express, derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan, Punjab, killing four people and injuring several others. The incident occurred at about 5:15 a.m. local time on Tuesday while the train was traveling from Karachi to Peshawar. Train driver Rizwan Abbas said the train was moving at 100 kilometres per hour when he felt a sudden push, applied the brakes, and stopped, but the 14 coaches had already derailed and were off the tracks. Rescue teams recovered all four bodies and evacuated injured passengers to Nishtar Hospital. Emergency responders and paramedics were dispatched to the scene and continued operations. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences and urged authorities to provide the best medical care and to accelerate rescue efforts. Rescue officials reported that 13 coaches had been cleared, while work continued on the remaining coach. A passenger mentioned that workers had repaired the nuts and bolts of coach number nine near Rohri before the accident, though the connection to the derailment remains unverified. Pakistan Railways has appointed the federal government inspector of railways (FGIR) as the inquiry officer. The railway has opened information and assistance desks at major stations, operating 24 hours a day, and has instructed Divisional Commercial Officers to arrange alternative transport and ticket refunds. A replacement train carrying more than 500 passengers of the Rehman Baba Express has left Sher Shah Railway Station, and buses have been coordinated with the Multan district administration for passengers opting to continue their journey by road.