At least one passenger was killed and 24 others injured when four bogies of the Awam Express derailed near Lodhran railway station in the early hours of Sunday. According to Lodhran Deputy Commissioner Dr. Lubna Nazir, the injured included four women, three children, and 16 men. Seventeen passengers were discharged after first aid, while three remain under treatment but are reported to be out of danger.
Initial reports suggested 19 passengers were injured, but the number rose as more people were rescued from the damaged train compartments. One passenger, who was shifted to Bahawal Victoria Hospital, later succumbed to injuries. Rescue teams swiftly carried out evacuation operations, while the cause of the derailment is yet to be determined.
Federal Minister for Railways Khawaja Muhammad Hanif Abbasi expressed sorrow over the loss of life and directed a full inquiry into the incident, ordering the report to be submitted within seven days. He instructed railway authorities to provide complete medical care to the injured and ensure the restoration of train services without delay. The minister confirmed that traffic on the up track has resumed, while work continues on clearing the down track.
The accident occurred while the Awam Express was traveling from Peshawar to Karachi. It follows a series of railway-related mishaps in recent months, including explosions targeting the Jaffar Express near Shikarpur and Jacobabad, which caused derailments and service disruptions. Although no major casualties were reported in those earlier incidents, the repeated accidents have raised concerns over railway safety and infrastructure security.