SARGODHA: In what appears to be yet another blow to the beleaguered Pakistan Railways, four coaches of the Mianwali Express derailed near Sargodha on Thursday morning while traveling from Mari Indus via Kundian to Lahore.
ریلوے بد سے بدترین کی طرف گامزن
ماڑی انڈس سے براستہ کندیاں لاہور جانیوالی میانوالی ایکسپریس کی 4 کوچز سرگودھا کے قریب ڈی ریل ہوگئیں
کندیاں سے ریسکیو ٹرین روانہ کردی گئی
کسی جانی نقصان کی اطلاع نہیں ملی pic.twitter.com/zNmrVMk4Tf— Shahid Hussain (@ShahidHussainJM) April 2, 2026
A rescue train was promptly dispatched from Kundian, and authorities confirmed there were no reports of fatalities — though injuries and significant service disruption are expected.
This latest incident adds to a grim tally: between January 1 and December 20, 2025, the national rail operator recorded 95 accidents — 89 of them derailments. These included 46 passenger-train derailments and 43 freight-train derailments, along with one train fire and two level-crossing collisions. The accidents collectively claimed over a dozen lives, injured hundreds, and caused widespread operational chaos.
The trend has continued into 2026. In February, the Green Line Express — an empty rake — derailed near Rawalpindi due to deteriorating track conditions. A freight train derailed near Mehrabpur the same month. In late March, the Tezgam Express derailed near Adam Wahan/Lodhran, with seven coaches off the tracks and approximately 25 passengers injured. Safety reports also cite incidents involving the Shalimar Express and others, underscoring systemic vulnerabilities.
Despite Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s return to office in March 2024 — and repeated pledges to modernize infrastructure — the railways continue to spiral downward.
Critics argue that chronic underfunding, deferred maintenance, and lack of accountability have turned the network into a ticking time bomb. With no major reforms in sight, passengers and freight operators alike brace for more disruptions — and worse.
