Islamabad Express Derails, Dozens Injured Near Lahore

The Islamabad Express passenger train derailed near Kala Shah Kaku in Punjab province, Pakistan, on Friday, injuring between 25 and 46 passengers. Several coaches came off the tracks shortly after the train departed Lahore, with emergency teams quickly rescuing and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals. Most injuries were described as minor, but some passengers remain in critical condition, and search operations continued to ensure no one was trapped. Pakistan's Railways Minister Muhammad Hanif Abbasi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered immediate rescue operations and a formal inquiry, with a report due within seven days. Train accidents are relatively frequent in Pakistan, often attributed to underinvestment and outdated rail infrastructure. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation.