2023 Hazara Express derailment

Due to outdated systems, some of which have not been updated since the colonial era, crashes and derailments on Pakistan's railways are not uncommon. The government has faced criticism for neglecting the signal systems and aging tracks.{{cite news |title=A timeline of major train accidents in the past two decades |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1628055/a-timeline-of-major-train-accidents-in-the-past-two-decades |access-date=6 August 2023 |work=Dawn |date=7 June 2021 |language=en |archive-date=8 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608084805/https://www.dawn.com/news/1628055/a-timeline-of-major-train-accidents-in-the-past-two-decades |url-status=live }} Residents said the tracks remained in bad condition after the 2022 floods.{{cite news |title=Hazara Express: investigators scour wreckage after deadly train crash in Pakistan |url=https://www.brecorder.com/news/40256652 |access-date=7 August 2023 |work=Business Recorder |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=7 August 2023 |language=en |archive-date=7 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807132136/https://www.brecorder.com/news/40256652 |url-status=live }} A day earlier, the Allama Iqbal Express derailed near Padidan without casualties.{{cite news |date=6 August 2023 |title=Train derails near Padidan |language=en |work=Dawn |agency=Pakistan Press International |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1768563/train-derails-near-padidan |url-status=live |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806115153/https://www.dawn.com/news/1768563/train-derails-near-padidan |archive-date=6 August 2023}} The 2021 Ghotki rail crash also took place in the same province. According to local reports from 2013 to 2019, 150 people died in train incidents.

At 13:18 PKT (08:18 UTC),{{cite news |last1=Khan |first1=Mohammad Hussain |title=At least 30 killed, several injured as train derails near Nawabshah |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1768694 |access-date=6 August 2023 |work=Dawn |date=6 August 2023 |language=en |archive-date=6 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806190043/https://www.dawn.com/news/1768694 |url-status=live }} ten coaches of the Hazara Express derailed near Sarhari railway station, between Shahdadpur and Nawabshah, en route from Karachi to Sargodha. The train was carrying around 1,000 passengers. The injured went to the nearby Peoples Medical College Hospital in Nawabshah and operations on the main rail were halted as repair crews arrived. Investigators are determining the cause.{{cite news |last=Tanveer |first=Asim |date=6 August 2023 |title=Express train derails in southern Pakistan, killing 30 people and injuring more than 90 |publisher=Associated Press |url=https://apnews.com/article/train-derailment-pakistan-hazara-express-20fcf825ad7d86cec736dbd819c3e3fb |url-status=live |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230811135354/https://apnews.com/article/train-derailment-pakistan-hazara-express-20fcf825ad7d86cec736dbd819c3e3fb |archive-date=11 August 2023}}{{Cite news |last= |date=2023-08-06 |title=30 killed, 90 injured in train accident in Pakistan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/many-killed-in-train-derailment-in-pakistan/article67164693.ece |access-date=2024-11-10 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}

Rescue 1122, Pakistan Railways, Pakistan Army, Rangers and police conducted relief and rescue operations at the crash site.{{cite news |date= |title=30 dead, over 80 injured in train accident near Nawabshah |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1097751-hazara-express-en-route-to-punjab-derails-near-nawabshah |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806093610/https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1097751-hazara-express-en-route-to-punjab-derails-near-nawabshah |archive-date=6 August 2023 |access-date=6 August 2023 |work=The News International}} Benazirabad Deputy Inspector General of Police Younis Chandio said that nine out of ten wrecked coaches had been cleared of the dead and injured.

Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique said that no faults had been reported on the stretch of line where the crash happened, and ordered an investigation.{{cite news |date=6 August 2023 |title=Hazara Express mishap: Railways minister directs for investigation |publisher=BOL News |url=https://www.bolnews.com/pakistan/2023/08/hazara-express-mishap-railways-minister-directs-for-investigation/ |url-status=live |access-date=6 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806120502/https://www.bolnews.com/pakistan/2023/08/hazara-express-mishap-railways-minister-directs-for-investigation/ |archive-date=6 August 2023}} A preliminary report submitted by a six-member team on 8 August 2023 stated that metal fishplates connecting the rails at the accident site were missing and that a section of track had been replaced with wood.{{Cite news |date=8 August 2023 |title=Missing fishplates, damaged track caused train derailment in Pakistan: report |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/missing-fishplates-damaged-track-caused-train-derailment-in-pakistan-report/article67171099.ece |access-date=11 August 2023 |issn=0971-751X}} The report also noted that wheels on the locomotive were damaged and that sabotage could not be ruled out. Six employees, including three officials, were later suspended.{{Cite news |last=Mehto |first=Zulfiqar |date=8 August 2023 |title=Pakistan Railways suspends 6 officials in wake of Hazara Express train tragedy |url=https://www.samaaenglish.tv/news/40044857 |access-date=8 August 2023 |publisher=Samaa TV |language=en}} On 9 August 2023, Rafique disclaimed earlier reports that fishplates were missing and that wood had been used for repairs. The main cause of the accident, he said, was two stuck locomotive wheels and a damaged section of track.{{Cite news |date=9 August 2023 |title=Six officials sacked over Hazara express tragedy |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2429987/six-officials-sacked-over-hazara-express-tragedy |access-date=9 August 2023 |work=The Express Tribune |language=en}}

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif tweeted: "I have sought a report on the incident from railway authorities." Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah tweeted: "My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the deceased passengers. The injured should be provided with the best healthcare facilities in the hospitals."

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