Tezgam Express Derails Near Lodhran, 25 Passengers Injured
By Bilal Haider :
A late-night derailment of the Tezgam Express near Adam Wahan, close to Lodhran in Punjab, left at least 25 passengers injured and disrupted rail traffic for several hours, Pakistan Railways officials said on Wednesday.
Authorities said the accident occurred after a coupling hook broke, splitting the train into two sections. The failure caused at least four coaches, including a dining car, to derail, with some carriages overturning and blocking the track.
Passengers described scenes of panic inside crowded compartments as the train derailed in darkness, with many scrambling to escape from the damaged coaches.
Injured Passengers Taken to Hospital
Lodhran Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Ashraf said 25 passengers were injured in the incident.
Seventeen of them received first aid at the scene and were later discharged, while eight passengers in critical condition were transferred to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for treatment.
Rescue teams and local authorities moved stranded passengers to nearby facilities, including a school, while additional accommodation was arranged at the Circuit House.
“Food and basic facilities were also provided to passengers during the night,” Mr Ashraf said.
Rescue and Restoration Efforts
Emergency services, including Rescue 1122 teams, responded to the scene to assist with evacuations and recovery efforts. A relief train and trucks were also deployed as part of the operation.
Officials confirmed there were no fatalities in the derailment, but railway services on the down track were temporarily suspended. Several Karachi-bound trains were halted at Lodhran station during the disruption.
Railway authorities later said the Tezgam Express resumed its journey towards Karachi from Samasata Junction after four additional coaches were attached.
Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi has ordered an inquiry into the incident to determine the cause of the derailment.
Ongoing Concerns Over Rail Safety
The derailment comes amid continued concerns about Pakistan’s ageing railway infrastructure.
A similar incident occurred in March last year when the Tezgam Express derailed at Rohri station, after one of its coaches slipped off the track. The accident damaged railway lines and caused delays to several trains, including the Bahauddin Zakariya Express, Shah Hussain Express, Green Line Express and Fareed Express.
Pakistan has also experienced more serious rail accidents in recent years. In August 2023, a passenger train derailed in the Nawabshah district of Sindh, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 80.
That crash followed a major train collision in Sindh in 2021 that left at least 56 people dead and more than 100 injured.
Transport officials say efforts are under way to modernise the railway network, including proposed upgrades linked to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, though funding and implementation challenges remain.
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