A tragic train derailment in southern Pakistan has caused the loss of at least 30 lives and left numerous others injured. The incident occurred near the Sahara railway station in Nawabshah, Sindh province, when several carriages of the Hazara Express train derailed. The Minister of Railways, Khawaja Saad Rafique, described the accident as significant, with over 1,000 passengers on board at the time. As rescue operations continue, the death toll is expected to rise.
The Hazara Express train, traveling from Karachi to Abbottabad, derailed in Nawabshah, approximately 275km (170 miles) from Karachi. Images captured at the scene depict the wreckage, with passengers smashing windows to escape the twisted carriages. The chaotic aftermath saw ambulances and private vehicles rushing the injured to the Nawabshah Trauma Centre for treatment. Witnesses described the harrowing scenes, including a man carrying a blood-soaked child and a woman in agonizing pain.
Volunteers and emergency personnel worked tirelessly to assist the injured, wading through a canal that separates the road from the railway line. The Hazara Express, a daily passenger train, covers a distance of approximately 1,600km (994 miles) from Karachi to Havelian in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Unfortunately, accidents and derailments are not uncommon on Pakistan’s outdated railway system.
Pakistan has witnessed several tragic incidents on its railways in recent years. In June 2021, a collision between two trains near Daharki in Sindh claimed the lives of at least 65 people and left around 150 others injured. Another devastating incident occurred in October 2019 when a fire aboard the Tezgam express train resulted in the deaths of 75 passengers. Additionally, a collision between two trains in Ghotki in 2005 claimed the lives of over 100 people.
Following this latest train derailment, authorities will conduct an investigation to find out the cause of the accident.