Dozens hurt as Islamabad Express derails

Over 150 passengers were left injured on Friday when five coaches of the Islamabad Express passenger train overturned near Kala Shah Kaku railway station, just 15 kilometres from Lahore, in a terrifying derailment that narrowly avoided plunging the train into a ravine.

The train, en route from Lahore to Rawalpindi with hundreds of passengers aboard, met with the accident near the rugged terrain surrounding Kala Shah Kaku.

According to injured passengers, the sudden jolts began as the train crossed the stretch near the station, causing five rear coaches to veer off the eastern side of the track and overturn.

Meanwhile, the locomotive dragged four passenger coaches over 500 metres off the rails before coming to a halt.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and panic, as men, women, children and the elderly screamed for help amid the wreckage. With the area shrouded in darkness and difficult to access, rescue teams struggled to reach the site in time.

The screams of injured passengers echoed through the night, creating an atmosphere of distress and fear.

Injured passengers said the 107-Up was composed of nine coaches and had just crossed the outskirts of Lahore when it began shaking violently. The site of the derailment lies in a remote area flanked by steep ravines on both sides of the railway track, raising fears of a far greater tragedy had the overturned coaches fallen into the gorges.

Rescue 1122 issued an official statement putting the number of injured at 27. However, eyewitnesses estimated the number to be well above 100, with some suggesting it crossed 150.

Upon receiving the alert, Sheikhupura Deputy Commissioner Shahid Imran Marth, District Police Officer Bilal Zafar Sheikh, and teams from Rescue 1122 and police units from Muridke, Sheikhupura, Ferozewala and Shahdara rushed to the scene. They supervised first aid and evacuation efforts throughout the night.

Many injured passengers were seen wandering in the dark in search of their belongings or trying to reach the nearby GT Road. Several used private vehicles to reach hospitals on their own, while others were transported to medical facilities under the supervision of rescue personnel.

Stranded passengers later left the scene in private vehicles, hoping to resume their journeys from alternate points. Several were seen frantically trying to locate their luggage amid the derailed coaches.

While the cause of the derailment remains under investigation, officials are expected to release further details once technical assessments are complete.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the train accident and directed rescue teams to start operations to help passengers as soon as possible. He ordered the provision of immediate medical assistance to the injured on a priority basis. He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.