Rehman Baba Express Derailment Toll Rises to Seven Near Multan
The death toll from the derailment of the Rehman Baba Express near Multan has risen to seven, including a minor girl, while 50 people were injured.
The railway minister has ordered a probe into Tuesday’s accident near Sher Shah Bridge, in one of the worst rail disasters on the Karachi-Peshawar main line in recent years.
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed concern over the derailment, extending condolences to the bereaved families and directing the authorities to provide all possible facilities to the affected passengers. He said a transparent investigation should be conducted to determine the cause.
What happened at Sher Shah Bridge
The Peshawar-bound train, travelling from Karachi with more than 500 passengers on board, derailed at around 5:15am on Tuesday. All 14 coaches left the tracks near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan district, Punjab.
Rescue teams rushed to the site within minutes and began pulling passengers from the wrecked coaches. The injured were shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan, where several are reported to be in serious condition. Railway officials suspended traffic on both the up and down tracks, and a relief train was dispatched to clear the site.
A rising toll
Initial reports put the dead at four, with Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi telling reporters he could not confirm reports of a fifth death. As rescue work continued and the injured were accounted for, the figure climbed — first to five, and now to seven, with 50 injured.
The death of a minor girl among the seven killed has deepened the public distress over the accident.
The coach 9 question
One detail may shape the inquiry. A passenger told reporters that workers had repaired the nuts and bolts of coach number nine near Rohri before the accident. Railway sources indicated the coach had developed a fault and was inspected after the train was stopped near Rohri.
That claim has not been independently verified, and no confirmed link has been established between the reported repair and the derailment. Investigators will need to determine why all 14 coaches left the tracks.
A familiar tragedy
The derailment has renewed concerns about railway safety in Pakistan. In August 2023, the Hazara Express derailed near Nawabshah in Sindh, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 100.
Each major accident brings the same questions about track maintenance and inspection routines. This one adds a sharper version of that question: a coach was reportedly repaired hours before the crash, yet the train was allowed to continue.
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Frequently asked questions
How many people died in the derailment?
Seven, including a minor girl. Fifty others were injured.
Where and when did it happen?
Near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan district, at around 5:15am on Tuesday, October 13. The train was travelling from Karachi to Peshawar with over 500 passengers.
What caused the derailment?
The cause has not been officially established. A passenger claimed coach number nine had nuts and bolts repaired near Rohri before the crash; that has not been independently verified. An inquiry has been ordered.
