Pakistan Train Derailment Kills Five and Injures Up to 35

A railway accident near Multan in Pakistan's Punjab province killed at least five people and injured between 30 and 35 others on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, after the Rehman Baba Express derailed while traveling from Karachi to Peshawar. The crash occurred at approximately 5:15 a.m. near Sher Shah Bridge, prompting emergency crews to evacuate passengers and transport the injured for medical treatment.

Police reported five fatalities and approximately 30 injuries, while a separate report citing railway and rescue officials put the number of injured at 35. The discrepancy between the two reported injury totals had not been resolved in the available accounts.

According to railway spokesman Kaleem Akhtar, rescuers evacuated passengers from all 14 train cars. Rescue officials said the injured were taken to Nishtar Hospital in Multan, where one person died before being transported, according to the report published by Daily Record News.

Information reported by The Hindu indicated that rescue workers had cleared 13 coaches and were continuing operations in the remaining coach. Emergency personnel continued working at the scene as authorities responded to the crash.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths and instructed authorities to accelerate rescue efforts. He also directed officials to ensure that injured passengers received the best possible medical care without delay.

The cause of the derailment remained undetermined, and authorities had not established an official explanation for the accident as rescue operations continued.

A passenger told reporters that workers had repaired nuts and bolts on coach number nine near Rohri before the derailment. The Hindu, citing a report by Geo News, noted that the claim had not been independently verified, and no confirmed connection between the reported maintenance work and the crash had been established.

The accident adds to a history of deadly railway incidents in Pakistan, where the rail network has faced longstanding challenges involving investment, infrastructure and aging equipment. Daily Record News reported that decades of underinvestment, outdated tracks and aging signaling systems have contributed to persistent railway safety concerns.

In August 2023, the derailment of the Hazara Express near Nawabshah in Sindh province killed at least 30 people and injured more than 100. That disaster highlighted the risks associated with railway operations in the country.

Pakistan Railways and other relevant authorities were expected to provide further information as rescue work progressed. Officials had not announced a confirmed cause for the October 13 derailment.