More than 50 passengers were feared injured on Friday when six bogies of the Islamabad Express derailed near Kala Shah Kaku, between Sheikhupura and Muridke. The train was travelling from Lahore to Islamabad when the derailment occurred near Nullah Dek, a small canal running alongside the railway tracks.
According to rescue sources, three bogies overturned due to the impact of the derailment, while a total of six bogies veered off the tracks. Initial scenes from the accident site were marked by chaos and panic, as terrified passengers struggled to comprehend what had happened. In the immediate aftermath, many passengers tried to rescue others, pulling people out from the damaged compartments before emergency services arrived.
Rescue 1122 sources confirmed that six rescue vehicles were deployed to the accident site as part of an ongoing relief operation. The injured included women and children, all of whom were transported to the Muridke Tehsil Headquarters Hospital and Shahdara Teaching Hospital for treatment. Two of the victims were reported to be in critical condition and were later shifted to Lahore’s General Hospital for more advanced medical care.
The search operation continued into the evening, with rescue workers combing through each of the bogies to ensure no one remained trapped inside. Despite the efforts, eyewitnesses noted a delay in the arrival of rescue teams. In the crucial minutes following the derailment, injured and uninjured passengers alike initiated the first round of rescue efforts, attempting to assist one another in the absence of formal aid.
Officials confirmed that more than 25 individuals sustained injuries, although no deaths had been reported at the time. First aid was administered at the site, and those requiring more serious attention were transported to nearby medical facilities.
The accident occurred in the vicinity of Sheikhupura, with initial findings suggesting it may have been caused by excessive speed and the unintentional release of the train’s tow chain. Railway officials reported that broken pieces of track were discovered at the site, and that the train had been travelling at approximately 105 kilometers per hour at the time of the incident. In response, a relief train and medical van were dispatched from Lahore to aid the ongoing rescue and recovery operation.
Train services on the Islamabad-Lahore route have been disrupted as a result of the derailment. According to a railway spokesperson, alternative routes have been arranged. Trains heading to or from Rawalpindi and Lahore will now operate via Wazirabad, Sangla Hill, Hafizabad, and Shahdara until the affected section is repaired and cleared for use.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the accident and directed authorities to begin relief efforts without delay. He also emphasized the need for immediate medical assistance for the injured and prayed for their swift recovery.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi took notice of the incident and instructed the CEO of Pakistan Railways and the divisional superintendent to reach the site as soon as possible. Railways staff were told to expedite the relief operation, and medical teams were ordered to mobilize immediately. Minister Abbasi has called for a formal inquiry into the accident and directed that a detailed report be submitted within seven days.
