At least four passengers were killed and more than 40 others injured when the Rehman Baba Express, travelling from Karachi to Peshawar, derailed near Sher Shah Railway Station on the outskirts of Multan early on October 13, 2026. Officials said 14 coaches left the tracks and rescue teams worked through the morning to recover victims and treat the wounded.

Rescue response and casualty handling

Rescue 1122 teams and local police were first at the scene and moved injured passengers to Nishtar Hospital and other nearby medical centres. Authorities initially reported varying casualty totals as rescue operations continued, with some hospital sources and field responders placing the injured count higher than early official tallies.

Punjab provincial officials said emergency crews prioritised stabilising and transporting those with serious injuries, and that some patients were being treated for fractures and chest trauma. Local hospitals placed additional staff on alert and opened emergency wards to handle the influx of patients.

Railway inquiry and immediate actions

The federal railways minister announced the appointment of the Federal Government Inspector of Railways as the inquiry officer to lead a formal investigation. Authorities said they would examine mechanical condition, track integrity and any operational lapses, and would review the train's maintenance records and crew logs from the journey.

Pakistan Railways has temporarily suspended service on the affected stretch while clearing wreckage and carrying out safety checks. Railway teams and heavy lifting equipment were deployed at the derailment site to remove damaged coaches and inspect the rails for defects.

Passenger accounts and preliminary signals

Some passengers and local eyewitnesses described a sudden jolt and the sound of metal scraping before coaches began to tilt. At least one passenger said workers had earlier inspected or tightened nuts and bolts on a coach during a previous stop, reporting a mechanical problem, a detail the inquiry team says it will seek to verify.

Investigators cautioned that passenger reports are preliminary and that official findings will depend on technical inspection of the coach underframes, wheel sets, and fasteners, as well as an assessment of the track and signalling systems in the area.

Context and safety concerns

The derailment comes amid wider concerns over railway safety in Pakistan. Railway operators and transport analysts have pointed to maintenance backlogs, aging rolling stock, and constrained budgets as recurring risk factors. Officials said a thorough probe will determine whether this incident exposed systemic maintenance or operational weaknesses that need immediate correction.

Railway unions and passenger rights groups called for a rapid, transparent investigation and faster implementation of any safety recommendations. They urged authorities to publish findings and to accelerate repair and replacement programs for old carriages and track infrastructure.

What this means for travellers and policy

Authorities indicated that services on the Karachi to Peshawar route would remain disrupted while recovery and inspections continue, and advised travellers to check with Pakistan Railways for revised schedules. The derailment is likely to increase pressure on federal and provincial officials to allocate emergency funding for urgent maintenance and to accelerate a longer term modernisation plan for the rail network.

Beyond immediate repairs, the formal inquiry is expected to recommend measures on crew training, carriage maintenance routines, and inspections. Any finding that attributes the accident to poor upkeep or procedural lapses could prompt disciplinary action and new safety mandates for operators.

Next steps and timeline

The Federal Government Inspector of Railways will lead evidence collection at the site and assemble a technical report. Officials said preliminary findings could emerge within days, while a full technical report may take longer depending on forensic assessments of equipment and track condition.

For families of victims and passengers seeking information, provincial authorities have established hotlines at local hospitals and urged anyone with information or footage from the incident to share it with investigators. The railways ministry said it would provide updates as the inquiry progresses and as recovery operations are completed.