Lodhran Coal Train Derailment Disrupts Rail Traffic
Four wagons derailed in the Lodhran coal train derailment near Lodhran junction early on Sunday morning, blocking the track and diverting major passenger trains. No loss of life was reported. Railway teams later cleared the track, and train operations resumed on the affected section.
The train was travelling from Tharparkar to Sahiwal (Yousafwala) when the wagons came off the rails at Rukanpur Railway Station. The station sits near Lodhran junction on the Lodhran-Khanewal chord section. That section links Lodhran with Khanewal, so a blockage there affects trains moving between southern Punjab and points further north.
Lodhran coal train derailment: what happened at Rukanpur
The derailment took place early on Sunday morning as the train proceeded towards Khanewal via the chord section. Four wagons of the Yousafwala coal train derailed at Rukanpur. The track was blocked, and railway traffic was diverted from the affected section.
A relief train and other necessary equipment were dispatched to Rukanpur Railway Station to lift the derailed wagons. Repair teams then worked on the track. A Pakistan Railways Multan Division spokesperson said that after timely repair measures, the track was cleared and traffic was restored.
Which trains were diverted
All up and down trains that normally passed through the chord section were diverted. That included the Pakistan Business Express and the Green Line, along with other services on the route.
The diverted trains were sent to Multan from Lodhran junction. From there, they continued their journeys towards their destinations via Khanewal. The diversion kept services moving, but it added a detour to routes that normally run straight through the chord section.
For passengers, the key point is that the diversion was temporary. Services did not stop across the region. They followed an alternate route while repair teams cleared Rukanpur, and they returned to the normal route once the track was restored.
Cause and inquiry
An initial probe suggested that a technical fault in one of the wagons caused the derailment. That finding is preliminary. A detailed inquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause in full.
The distinction matters. An initial technical-fault finding explains what railway officials saw first. A detailed inquiry will test that finding against the wagon, the track and the operating record. Until that inquiry reports, the cause should be read as provisional, not final.
The incident also underlines why freight derailments matter beyond freight. A coal train carries no passengers, yet four wagons off the rails blocked a section used by major passenger trains. The knock-on effect reached the Business Express and the Green Line within hours.
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Frequently asked questions
Where did the Lodhran coal train derailment happen?
Four wagons derailed at Rukanpur Railway Station near Lodhran junction, on the Lodhran-Khanewal chord section, early on Sunday morning. The train was travelling from Tharparkar to Sahiwal (Yousafwala).
Was anyone hurt?
No loss of life was reported, according to Dawn’s report. The derailment blocked the track and disrupted traffic, but no casualties were reported.
Which trains were affected?
All up and down trains that normally used the chord section were diverted, including the Pakistan Business Express and the Green Line. They were diverted to Multan from Lodhran junction and continued via Khanewal.
What caused the derailment, and is the line open now?
An initial probe suggested a technical fault in one wagon, but a detailed inquiry has been ordered. A Pakistan Railways Multan Division spokesperson said the track was cleared after repairs and train operations resumed on the affected section.
