Rehman Baba Express Derails Near Multan Killing Five and Injuring Over 40, Initial Report Points to Coach Fault

MULTAN: The Karachi-to-Peshawar Rehman Baba Express came off the tracks early on Tuesday near Sher Shah Railway Station in Multan district. Pakistan Railways chief executive Muhammad Hafeezullah confirmed that five passengers were killed, while more than 40 were injured. The injured were taken to Nishtar Hospital in Multan for treatment.

What the driver saw

Driver Rizwan Abbas said the train was running at about 100 kilometres an hour and the signal was clear. Passing through the Sher Shah station area, he felt a sudden push, braked and brought the train to a stop. When he climbed down from the locomotive and looked back, the passenger coaches were lying off the tracks. He maintained the train had been in working order. Pakistan Railways’ initial investigation report has pointed to a likely fault in one of the passenger coaches, though the final cause will only be known once the inquiry is complete.

Inquiry ordered, compensation promised

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi has appointed the Federal Government Inspector of Railways as the inquiry officer. He directed officials to give the injured the best possible medical care and said compensation would be paid to the families of those killed and to the injured under the Pakistan Railways insurance policy. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed grief over the accident and directed that rescue work be sped up and no effort spared in treating the injured.