ISLAMABAD: One person was killed while 21 others were injured when four bogies of a Karachi-bound passenger train derailed near Lodhran city in eastern Pakistan on Sunday, the railways ministry said.

The accident happened after the brakes of the Karachi-bound Awam Express, which operates from the southern port city to the northwestern Peshawar, failed near the Lodhran Railway station in Punjab province on Sunday. 

“According to reports, one passenger died and 21 passengers were injured,” the railways ministry said in a statement.

It added that two passengers were critically injured and were being provided treatment at the Bahawalpur Hospital. The statement said passengers who suffered minor injuries are being treated at the District Headquarters Hospital in Lodhran.

The divisional superintendent of the nearby Multan city and medical teams reached the accident site immediately and are engaged in rescue operations, the ministry added. 

Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi took notice of the incident, directing authorities to ensure all possible treatment is provided to the injured passengers and submit a report regarding the incident within seven days. 

“Railway staff have been instructed to complete rescue work quickly and restore the down track,” the statement said. “Passengers of the affected train have been dispatched to their destinations by an alternative train.”

Rail transport remains a critical but underfunded part of Pakistan’s public infrastructure. The Pakistan Railways network stretches over 7,700 kilometers and connects major cities, yet it has struggled for decades with outdated technology, frequent delays and safety issues due to a lack of investment and mismanagement.

In recent years, successive governments have pledged to revitalize the sector. Recent initiatives have included track rehabilitation, procurement of new locomotives and the expansion of digital ticketing systems.