Islamabad Express derails near Lahore; 30 injured in Pakistan’s third train accident in 15 days

Lahore: A major rail accident struck Pakistan on Friday evening when ten coaches of the Islamabad Express derailed near Kala Shah Kaku, in the Sheikhupura district, roughly 50 km from Lahore.

The train was en route from Lahore to Rawalpindi when the incident occurred, according to a statement from Pakistan Railways.

According to reports at least 30 passengers were injured, three of them critically. Rescue teams rushed to the site, where some passengers were initially trapped in derailed coaches. The injured were transferred to nearby hospitals for emergency medical care. Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported so far.

The derailment occurred about 30 minutes after the train departed from Lahore Railway Station, and an official investigation is now underway. Federal Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has directed the Pakistan Railways CEO and divisional superintendent to visit the site and supervise relief efforts. He has also ordered a formal inquiry, with a detailed report expected within a week.

Part of a Troubling Pattern

This is the third train derailment in Pakistan in just 15 days. On 28 July, three coaches of the Jaffar Express derailed due to a reported explosion in Sindh province, and earlier on 17 July, a series of blasts targeted the Jaffar Express in Jacobabad, causing it to derail again.

Pakistan’s railway network has long struggled with chronic under-investment, outdated tracks, and failing signal systems. In one of the country’s worst rail disasters in recent memory, at least 30 people died in a 2023 derailment in Nawabshah, Sindh.

The latest Islamabad Express accident adds to the growing concern over rail safety in Pakistan, with calls increasing for urgent reforms to prevent future tragedies.
(With agency inputs)