In a tragic incident on Sunday, a passenger train derailed in southern Pakistan, claiming the lives of at least 28 people, according to the country's railway minister, Khawaja Saad Rafique. The accident occurred near the Sahara railway station close to Nawabshah city in the Sindh province.

It has been declared a major emergency at local hospitals as medical staff grapple with the influx of injured individuals. The Hazara Express, carrying approximately 1,000 passengers, derailed on a section of track where no previous faults had been reported. Rafique stated that the cause of the derailment could either be a mechanical fault or an act of sabotage.

The investigation into the incident is currently underway to determine the exact cause. Rescue and relief operations were immediately initiated, with a relief train dispatched to the site. However, rescuers faced numerous challenges in accessing the injured due to the remote location of the accident.

Civilian volunteers waded through a canal that runs parallel to the railway line to provide aid and transport injured individuals for medical assistance. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes at the accident site, with overturned and mangled train compartments lining the track.

Some passengers remained trapped inside one carriage, according to senior police official Younis Chandio. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals in ambulances and private vehicles. Unfortunately, this is not the first railway disaster in Pakistan.

The country's antiquated railway system, with nearly 7,500 kilometers of track, has witnessed several accidents and derailments due to weak infrastructure and lax safety standards. In June 2021, a collision between two trains claimed the lives of 65 people and injured around 150 others in Sindh. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and ordered a thorough inquiry into the accident.

The government is determined to understand the cause of the derailment and take appropriate measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. As the rescue operation continues and the injured receive necessary medical attention, the focus remains on providing support to the affected families and ensuring the safety of the country's railway system.