Rehman Baba Express derails near Multan, 6 dead, toddler missing

MULTAN: At least six passengers were killed and 34 injured after all 15 bogies of the Karachi-to-Peshawar-bound Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan early today, triggering a major rescue operation. An 18-month-old girl remains missing as search teams continue to comb the surrounding area.

The accident involving the 47-Up train occurred at around 5:15am. Rescue 1122 teams carried out a six-hour operation, recovering another body from beneath a bogie during the final clearance phase.

All injured passengers were shifted to Nishtar Hospital, where an emergency was declared. According to Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul Qadir Khan, four injured passengers were in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Passenger describes moments before crash

According to eyewitness accounts cited by Minute Mirror, passengers felt a sudden jolt as the train approached the curve near Sher Shah Bridge. The train was reportedly travelling at approximately 100 kilometres per hour when the incident occurred.

The driver, Rizwan Abbas, reportedly applied emergency brakes, but the coaches had already left the tracks and overturned.

Passengers also alleged that bogie No. 9 had undergone temporary nut-and-bolt repairs at Rohri railway station just hours before the train departed. The claim has yet to be independently verified, and the cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

Search continues for missing toddler

Rescue workers and police are searching nearby fields for Ayesha, the 18-month-old daughter of injured passenger Shabana.

According to the mother, the child had been sleeping against her chest when the sudden jolt threw her from her position.

Rescue teams initially cleared 13 coaches, while one bogie required additional time to remove. The search for the missing girl remains a priority.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Faisal Saleem established a relief camp near the accident site to provide food and shelter to stranded passengers.

Railway operations gradually resume

DS Railway Multan confirmed that the down track had been restored after approximately five hours of continuous work. Clearance operations on the up track were still underway, with reopening expected by evening.

Stranded passengers were being transported towards Khanewal through a relief train.

Authorities have seized the locomotive’s data recorder, described in the initial report as its black box, and recorded the driver’s statement. An inquiry committee has also been formed to establish the cause of the accident and determine whether any negligence was involved.

PM, president take notice

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari took notice of the incident and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi visited the accident site and announced compensation of Rs1.5 million for each deceased passenger and Rs500,000 for each injured passenger under the railway insurance policy.

Railway safety concerns resurface

The Multan derailment has renewed concerns about railway safety, infrastructure maintenance and operational oversight.

According to figures cited in the Minute Mirror report, Pakistan recorded 386 train derailments between 2021 and August 2026, including 213 involving freight trains and 173 involving passenger services. The highest annual total was 95 in 2024, followed by 87 in 2025.

The report attributed 141 incidents to defective tracks, 109 to human error and 65 to rolling-stock failures.

Pakistan Railways has also faced major accidents in recent years, including the Ghotki train collision in 2021, the Tezgam train fire in 2019 and the Hazara Express derailment in 2023.

As rescue teams continue searching for the missing child, the immediate priorities remain completing the operation, restoring railway services and establishing what caused the Rehman Baba Express to leave the tracks. The inquiry’s findings will be crucial in determining responsibility and identifying measures to prevent similar tragedies.