At least five people were killed and about 30 injured when a passenger train derailed in Multan in Pakistan’s Punjab Province on Tuesday morning, police said.
The Rehman Baba Express, travelling from Karachi to Peshawar, left the tracks near Sher Shah Bridge at around 5:15am, according to police. The injured were taken to Nishtar Hospital in Multan.
Rescue officials said 13 coaches had been cleared and work was continuing on one more. A passenger told reporters that workers had repaired the nuts and bolts of one coach near Rohri before the accident. That claim has not been independently verified, and it is not clear whether any repair was linked to the derailment.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and directed authorities to speed up rescue work and ensure the injured receive the best medical treatment. The cause of the derailment has not been officially established.
Pakistan Railways and other authorities are expected to give further details as rescue operations continue.
