The death toll rises in Pakistan following a train derailment, which has resulted in dozens of fatalities.

 

On Sunday, a tragic incident occurred in southern Pakistan as ten cars of a passenger train, the Hazara Express, derailed, resulting in the loss of 30 lives and leaving over 90 others injured, as reported by officials.

The crash, which occurred near the town of Nawabshah, caused some of the derailed cars to overturn, according to Mahmoodur Rehman Lakho, a senior railway officer. The train was en route from Karachi to Rawalpindi when the derailment happened near the Sarhari railway station.

In the aftermath of the accident, the derailed cars were scattered across or near the tracks in the flat and rural landscape. Local television coverage showed rescue teams tirelessly working to extract women, children, and elderly passengers from the damaged and overturned cars. Some of the injured were lying on the ground, seeking help, while compassionate locals offered water and food to those in need.

Senior police officer Abid Baloch reported from the scene that the rescue operation was successfully completed by early evening. Dozens of injured individuals were safely rescued, and the last overturned car was cleared.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed his sorrow over the tragic loss of life and offered prayers for the departed souls and a speedy recovery for the injured during a political gathering in Punjab.

"We all pray, may Allah grant a place in heaven to those who passed away, and I wish a quick recovery for the injured," he said.

Lakho, who is in charge of the railways in the accident area, stated that rescue crews transported injured passengers to the People's Hospital in Nawabshah.

Ihtesham Ali, who lost his family members, was searching for them in the chaotic situation. "Seven members of my family and 22 from my neighborhood are missing, and so far we have only found four of them; the rest are still missing."

Mohsin Sayal, another senior railway officer, mentioned that train traffic was suspended on the main line, and repair trains were dispatched to the scene. He assured that alternative travel arrangements and medical care would be provided for the train's passengers.

All trains in both directions were held at the nearest stations until the tracks could be cleared, leading to delays in departures. Passengers at Karachi station expressed frustration as railway authorities kept changing departure times.

Owais Iqbal, a passenger bound for Lahore at Karachi railway station, said, "Our train was supposed to depart at 5 p.m. Now we have been told that it will leave at 8 p.m. It may even get later. We are waiting, and we are suffering because of the poor railway system."

Minister for Railways, Khwaja Saad Rafiq, announced that an investigation into the cause of the crash is currently underway.

He also mentioned that military and paramilitary troops provided assistance to rescue workers in the effort to save trapped passengers. The most severely injured individuals were transported to distant hospitals via military helicopters to receive better treatment.

Train accidents are unfortunately common on poorly maintained railway tracks in Pakistan, where colonial-era communication and signal systems have not been modernized, and safety standards remain inadequate.