MULTAN: At least five passengers died and more than 30 suffered injuries when 14 coaches of the Rehman Baba Express derailed near Multan on Tuesday, railway officials said. A one-and-a-half-year-old girl also remained missing.

Railway spokesperson for Multan Division Kaleem Akhtar said rescuers had taken four bodies to Nishtar Hospital. Authorities initially reported a fifth death after finding human remains on the track.

Rescue teams continued operations at the site. Pakistan Railways dispatched a relief train and a medical van from Multan to help affected passengers. Officials also suspended train traffic on both tracks.

Rescue Teams Evacuate Passengers

Rescue 1122 said its teams had evacuated 53 passengers from the train. Meanwhile, Nishtar Hospital declared an emergency to treat the injured.

Hospital officials said staff had received 25 injured passengers. Three of them arrived dead. One patient remained in critical condition, while medical teams treated 21 others.

Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Abdul Qadir Khan and Vice Chancellor Dr Mehnaz Khakwani visited the emergency ward to review arrangements. The hospital also called in additional staff to support the response.

Dr Khan said the hospital had established an information desk in the emergency department to help families obtain details about injured passengers.

Officials Investigate Cause of Derailment

The train’s guard said the driver felt a sudden jolt near Sher Shah shortly before several coaches left the tracks.

However, officials have not determined the cause. Investigators will examine whether a track fault or a component from one of the coaches contributed to the derailment.

Some passengers alleged that the driver had been travelling at excessive speed. They said passengers in the fourth and fifth coaches had experienced severe jolts near Bahawalpur and had asked the driver to slow down. According to their account, the train continued at the same speed.

The Divisional Superintendent of Railways in Multan said officials needed more time to establish the cause. Pakistan Railways has formed an inquiry committee to investigate the incident.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi was also expected to visit Multan to assess the situation. He expressed grief over the accident and offered condolences to the bereaved families.

The minister directed officials to provide the best possible medical care to injured passengers. He also said the government would pay compensation to the families of deceased passengers and those injured, in line with the railway insurance policy.

He further directed the Federal Government Inspector of Railways to investigate the derailment.

Train Services Disrupted Across Multan

The derailment disrupted train services passing through Multan. Railway cranes were deployed to remove the derailed coaches, a process officials expected to take several hours.

Until workers clear the tracks, trains will use alternative routes through Lodhran and Khanewal. The diversions could cause further delays for passengers.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed concern over the accident and offered condolences to the victims’ families. He wished the injured a speedy recovery and directed authorities to provide assistance to affected passengers.

The president also called for a transparent investigation to establish the cause of the derailment.

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Pakistan Railways Faces Repeated Safety Concerns

The accident has renewed concerns about the safety and maintenance of Pakistan’s ageing railway infrastructure.

A report published in April 2026 said more than 20 railway accidents had occurred since the beginning of that year. The incidents reportedly included derailments, collisions and mechanical failures.

Those accidents included the Tezgam Express derailment near Lodhran, the Shalimar Express collision with a stationary freight train near Rohri, and the Karakoram Express separating into two sections near Khanewal after a coupling failure.

Pakistan Railways reported 95 accidents between January 1 and December 20, 2025, according to a report published that December. The incidents included 46 passenger-train derailments and 43 freight-train derailments.

A separate report published in May 2025 highlighted the condition of the railway network. It said more than 6,500 kilometres of track had exceeded its natural lifespan.

Railway experts have cited track alignment problems, failures to follow safety procedures and insufficient investment in modernising infrastructure as ongoing challenges.