Lahore – August 2, 2025:
A routine journey turned into a night of terror for hundreds of passengers aboard the Islamabad Express on Friday, when five of its coaches derailed and overturned near Kala Shah Kaku, just 15 kilometers outside Lahore. The harrowing incident left scores injured and triggered scenes of chaos and panic in the darkness.
The train, which was heading from Lahore to Rawalpindi, encountered the accident as it crossed a rugged section of track near Kala Shah Kaku railway station. Survivors described how the train suddenly began jolting violently before several of the rear coaches broke away and toppled off the eastern side of the track.
“I felt the ground move under me,” said one injured passenger, blood still streaking down his forehead. “The train shook like an earthquake — and then we were flying.”
The locomotive, according to initial reports, continued dragging four coaches for nearly 500 metres off the rails before finally grinding to a stop.
As the dust settled, a nightmarish scene unfolded: screams pierced the night air as men, women, children, and the elderly scrambled to escape the mangled coaches. The surrounding terrain, marked by steep ravines and poor access, only added to the fear that things could have ended far worse had the coaches tumbled further.
While Rescue 1122 officially reported 27 injuries, those on the ground painted a much grimmer picture. Eyewitnesses estimated the number of injured to be well over 100, possibly exceeding 150, as people limped away from the wreckage or lay waiting for help.
Reaching the accident site proved a challenge for emergency responders, with the narrow roads and poor lighting slowing rescue operations. Nonetheless, officials including Sheikhupura Deputy Commissioner Shahid Imran Marth, District Police Officer Bilal Zafar Sheikh, and teams from multiple nearby cities responded quickly and worked through the night to provide first aid and evacuate the injured.
Many passengers, disoriented and wounded, wandered in the darkness searching for lost belongings or trying to find a route to the nearby GT Road. Several injured individuals, unable to wait for ambulances, arranged their own transport to hospitals in private cars.
As dawn approached, dozens of stranded passengers finally left the site, many with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Others were seen desperately trying to retrieve luggage from the twisted remains of the coaches.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the derailment, though technical investigations are currently underway. Railway officials are expected to release an initial assessment in the coming days.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the incident and directed all relevant departments to provide immediate assistance to the injured. He emphasized the importance of rapid medical care and prayed for the swift recovery of those hurt in the accident.
