Pakistan Train Derailment Injures 30, Sparks Urgent Rescue Efforts

At least 30 passengers were injured, three critically, when 10 coaches of the Islamabad Express derailed near Lahore on Friday evening, Pakistan Railways officials reported. The train, en route from Lahore to Rawalpindi, veered off the tracks at Kala Shah Kaku, Sheikhupura, approximately 50 km from Lahore, just 30 minutes after departing Lahore railway station. The incident, which occurred late Friday, has prompted a massive rescue operation and an official investigation into the cause of the derailment.

Pakistan Railways confirmed that no fatalities have been reported so far, but rescue teams are still working to free passengers trapped in the mangled coaches. Emergency responders and paramedics swiftly transported the injured to nearby hospitals, where medical staff are treating the victims, including women and children. The three critically injured passengers are under close observation, with authorities emphasizing the need for urgent medical care.

Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi took immediate notice of the accident, directing the Railways CEO and the divisional superintendent to oversee operations at the site. Abbasi ordered a probe into the derailment, demanding inquiry findings within seven days to determine whether the cause was mechanical failure, human error, or sabotage. “Our priority is the safety of passengers and ensuring such incidents are prevented,” Abbasi said in a statement.

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The derailment has once again highlighted the chronic issues plaguing Pakistan’s railway system, which has suffered from decades of underinvestment, outdated tracks, and aging signal infrastructure. Train accidents are not uncommon in Pakistan, with a similar incident in 2023 claiming at least 30 lives when the Hazara Express derailed near Nawabshah in Sindh province. That crash, which injured over 90 people, underscored the urgent need for modernization and stricter safety standards.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams using heavy machinery to clear the derailed coaches and restore the tracks. Train services on the main line have been suspended, causing delays and stranding passengers at stations across the region. Commuters at Lahore and Karachi stations expressed frustration over the disruptions, with one passenger, Owais Iqbal, stating, “We are suffering because of the poor railway system.”

The incident comes just months after the March 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking in Balochistan, where insurgents sabotaged tracks with explosives, derailing coaches and killing 64 people. That attack led Pakistan Railways to announce plans for increased security, including surveillance drones and CCTV monitoring. It remains unclear whether similar security measures were in place at Kala Shah Kaku.

As investigations begin, public and political pressure is mounting for systemic reforms to prevent future tragedies. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed concern over the incident, urging authorities to expedite rescue efforts and provide support to affected families. The nation now awaits the inquiry’s findings, hoping for answers and accountability in the face of yet another railway disaster.

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