Tezgam Express derailment near Bahawalpur injures 26, one critical

BAHAWALPUR: At least 26 passengers were injured, one of them critically, after seven coaches of the Karachi-bound Tezgam train derailed near Adam Wahan Railway Station on the Bahawalpur-Lodhran track late Tuesday night.

The train, which had departed from Lahore, saw five of its bogies overturn during the incident, leaving several passengers trapped inside.

Rescue efforts began immediately, with Lodhran Deputy Commissioner Abdul Hafiz, Additional Deputy Commissioner Liaquat Gilani, police officials, and Rescue 1122 teams arriving at the scene to assist victims. By around 10:30 PM, rescuers were still working to pull passengers out of the overturned coaches.

Officials confirmed that no fatalities were reported. According to Pakistan Railways spokesperson Kaleem Ahmed, all injured passengers were provided medical assistance. Rescue 1122 reported that 26 individuals were hurt, 17 received first aid at the site, while nine, including a woman, were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Lodhran. One of them remains in critical condition.

Authorities stated that hospital wards with a capacity of 35 beds had been allocated to handle the injured.

While the exact cause of the derailment is yet to be determined, railway officials have launched an inquiry. Some eyewitnesses suggested that the incident may have occurred due to a failure in the couplers connecting the bogies, causing the train to split into two sections. The portion attached to the engine derailed, leading to the accident.

Railway traffic on the affected track has been suspended, and a relief train has been dispatched from Samasatta. Pakistan Railways officials have assured that strict action will be taken against anyone found responsible following the investigation.

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