At least four passengers were killed and roughly 30 injured early Tuesday when the Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan, in one of Pakistan's deadliest rail accidents in recent years. The train, running from Karachi to Peshawar, came off the tracks at about 5:15 a.m., and rescue teams were still working through the wreckage hours later.
Early casualty figures shifted through the morning as officials confirmed deaths. Geo News later put the death toll at six, while Dunya News reported at least four dead and WE News reported five. Pakistan Railways had not issued a final confirmed figure while this story was being prepared.
What we know about the Multan train derailment
Police and rescue officials said all of the train's coaches left the rails near Sher Shah Bridge on the outskirts of Multan in central Punjab. Geo News and WE News reported that all 14 coaches derailed; Dunya News put the figure at 15. Rescue officials said 13 coaches had been cleared by mid-morning, with crews continuing operations in the remaining coach.
The injured were shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan, the city's main public hospital, where emergency wards were placed on high alert. Further details about the condition of the injured had not been released as rescue work continued.
The train had left Karachi bound for Peshawar overnight. Passengers at the scene told reporters the derailment happened at roughly 5:15 a.m. One passenger claimed that workers had repaired nuts and bolts on coach number nine near Rohri, a major railway junction in Sindh, before the accident — a claim that has not been independently verified, and no official has linked any reported repair to the derailment.
Official response
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the accident and expressed concern over the injured passengers. He directed the authorities to speed up rescue operations and to make sure the injured received the best possible medical care without delay.
President Asif Ali Zardari also took notice of the incident, and an immediate inquiry into the derailment was ordered. Pakistan Railways and the relevant provincial authorities were expected to release further details on the casualties, the condition of the injured and the circumstances of the crash as operations continued.
Key Takeaways
- The Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan early Tuesday, at about 5:15 a.m.
- At least four people were killed — later reports put the toll at five or six — and around 30 were injured.
- All of the train's coaches (14 by most accounts) came off the tracks; rescue crews cleared 13 and were still working on one.
- The injured were taken to Nishtar Hospital in Multan.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered rescue operations accelerated; President Zardari ordered an inquiry.
- The official cause of the derailment had not been established; a passenger's claim about repairs at Rohri remains unverified.
Why it matters
This is Pakistan's worst passenger-train accident since the Hazara Express derailed near Nawabshah in Sindh in August 2023, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 100. That disaster prompted a national reckoning over railway maintenance, track inspections and the age of Pakistan's rolling stock — questions that are now back at the centre of public debate.
The Karachi–Peshawar corridor is the backbone of Pakistan's rail network, carrying millions of passengers a year between the country's two largest cities at opposite ends of the line. A full-line derailment like this — every coach off the rails — is rare and suggests investigators will look closely at track condition, speed and the state of the coaches.
What happens next
With a formal inquiry ordered, investigators from Pakistan Railways are expected to examine the track near Sher Shah Bridge, the train's speed recorders and maintenance logs, and interview the train crew. The passenger's account of work done on coach nine near Rohri will almost certainly be checked against maintenance records.
Families of the victims will await official confirmation of identities and any compensation announcements, which typically follow in the days after major rail accidents. If the inquiry points to infrastructure failure, it could reignite pressure for the long-promised upgrades to Pakistan's ageing rail network.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the Multan train derailment happen?
The Rehman Baba Express derailed near Sher Shah Bridge in Multan, a city in Pakistan's central Punjab province. The accident occurred on the busy Karachi-to-Peshawar rail corridor in the early hours of Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
How many people were killed in the Multan train accident?
Early reports varied: Dunya News reported at least four dead, WE News reported five, and Geo News later updated its toll to at least six. Around 30 passengers were injured. Officials had not released a final confirmed casualty figure while rescue operations were still under way.
What train derailed near Multan on Tuesday?
The Rehman Baba Express, an express passenger service running overnight from Karachi to Peshawar. It is one of the regular long-distance trains on Pakistan's main north–south rail line.
What time did the derailment happen?
Passengers at the scene told reporters the accident occurred at about 5:15 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Police confirmed the derailment took place early Tuesday near Sher Shah Bridge.
Where were the injured taken?
The injured passengers were shifted to Nishtar Hospital in Multan, the city's major public hospital, where emergency departments received the casualties for treatment.
What caused the derailment?
The cause had not been officially established. One passenger claimed nuts and bolts on coach number nine had been repaired near Rohri before the crash, but that claim is unverified and officials have not linked it to the derailment. A formal inquiry has been ordered to determine the cause.
How did the government respond?
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the accident, expressed concern for the injured and directed authorities to accelerate rescue efforts and provide the best possible medical care. President Asif Ali Zardari also took notice and ordered an immediate inquiry into the derailment.
Has this happened before in Pakistan?
Yes. In August 2023, the Hazara Express derailed near Nawabshah in Sindh, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 100. That accident raised serious questions about railway safety and maintenance that are resurfacing after today's derailment.
Sources
- Geo News: At least six killed, several injured as Rehman Baba Express derails in Multan (October 13, 2026)
- Dunya News: Four killed, several injured as Rehman Baba Express derails near Multan (October 13, 2026)
- WE News English: At Least Five Killed After Passenger Train Derails In Pakistan's Punjab (October 13, 2026)
- ETV Bharat / PTI: Five Killed, 30 Injured As Passenger Train Derails In Pakistan (October 13, 2026)
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By GlobalDeskNews Staff. Reporting from Multan, Pakistan. Updated as rescue operations continue; casualty figures are preliminary and subject to official confirmation.