MULTAN: Twenty-five passengers were injured when the Taizgam Express derailed near Adam Wahan village in Lodhran district on Wednesday.
Railway officials said the injured were transported to Multan Nishtar Hospital for treatment.The derailment caused severe disruption to rail traffic, as eight train bogies derailed, with five capsizing and three derailing.
Rescue operations by Rescue 1122 reported no fatalities, and all patients at Lodhran DHQ Hospital were later discharged. The relief operation concluded by 8:15 am.Some coaches overturned violently, causing panic inside the compartments as passengers scrambled to ensure their safety in the darkness.
Rail officials restricted speed limits on the affected track to 10 kilometers per hour and restored normal operations by Wednesday morning.Medical Superintendent of Nishtar Hospital Dr Rao Amjad Ali Khan said the emergency department was on high alert. Director Emergency Dr. Zahid Ahmed and senior staff were briefed and additional beds were made operational to manage accident cases efficiently.
Rail officials confirmed that the derailment occurred due to the detachment of a coupling hook, a critical component of the manual screw coupling system that connects railway carriages and locomotives.
Coupling hooks, located at the ends of carriages, hold the coupling chain or turnbuckle screw and work alongside side buffers to transmit traction forces while maintaining structural integrity. Manual screw couplings require workers to connect hooks between carriages, a system that is still used in some trains for tighter, less-slack operation.
Modern trains, by contrast, often use automatic couplers that lock automatically when carriages are pushed together.Officials emphasised the importance of routine inspection and maintenance of coupling systems, especially on tracks with curves and hilly terrain, to prevent future incidents.
CRACKDOWN ON GAS THEFT INTENSIFIED: The UFG Control Task Force of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL), on the instructions of the General Manager, has intensified operations against gas theft, illegal usage, and technical violations.
During recent operations, the task force inspected 60 locations across different areas of Multan. As a result, four gas meters were removed after being found involved in theft, SNGPL officials said.
The task force also recovered two gas meters that had been removed by consumers in an attempt to avoid inspection and detection of theft.Among other violations, one meter installed upside down was disconnected, while another was found violating regulations due to the use of a compressor. Both meters were subsequently removed.
According to SNGPL officials, the primary objective of these operations is not only to curb gas theft but also to ensure improved gas pressure, uninterrupted supply to consumers, and timely resolution of public complaints.
On this occasion, the SNGPL General Manager emphasised that the safety of consumers’ lives and property remains a top priority.He advised consumers to ensure there is no smell of gas before usage. In case of a gas leak, citizens should immediately open all windows and doors and avoid turning on any gas or electrical appliances.
The General Manager reiterated that strict and indiscriminate action against gas theft and illegal activities will continue in the future to ensure safe, reliable, and uninterrupted gas supply to all consumers.
‘BAR, BENCH COOPERATION VITAL TO ENSURE SPEEDY JUSTICE’: The Multan High Court Bar Association (MHCBA) Executive Committee, led by its president Chaudhry Umar Hayat and general secretary Fayyaz Hussain Khan Leghari, met with Senior Judge of the Lahore High Court Multan Bench Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi on Wednesday.
Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi congratulated the newly-elected Executive Committee and extended his best wishes. He emphasised the importance of mutual cooperation and pleasant relations between the Bar and the Bench to reduce cases pendency and ensure speedy justice.He said that the guidance of senior lawyers and hard work of young advocates were yielding results, but respect and strong professional relationships remain the key to success.
MHCBA president Chaudhry Umar Hayat and general secretary Fayyaz Hussain Khan briefed Justice Syed Shahbaz Ali Rizvi on the challenges being faced by the Multan Bar.
The meeting was attended by MHCBA office-bearers, including Vice President Malik Zahid Kabir Khakhi, Finance Secretary Chaudhry Noman Ahmed, Library Secretary Ms Sameera Siddique, and Executive Members Ms Amna Khan, Furqan Ahmed Khan, Syed Hasnain Shah Gilani, Sheikh Junaid Tariq, Mehr Ghulam Shabbir Syal, Syed Mubarak Ali Shah, Muhammad Ilyas, Chaudhry Muhammad Waqas Anjum Gujjar, Ms Maha Azam Rajput, Imran Abbas Gujjar, Abdul Majeed Kundi, Qamber Hassan, Sadaqat Hussain Shah and Syed Junaid Mumtaz.
ACTION AGAINST KITE-FLYING: City police have launched a strict campaign against illegal kite-flying and the sale of chemical-coated strings, resulting in multiple arrests, seizures, and enforcement of a zero-tolerance policy, officials said.
Shah Rukn Alam police recently arrested kite-seller Muhammad Irfan from the Samanabad area and recovered more than 1,500 kites. SHO Zeeshan Ali Sabir, along with ASI Muhammad Attaullah and his team, led the operation.
A case has been registered against the accused at Shah Rukn Alam Police Station, with further legal proceedings underway.In March 2026, police arrested four additional kite-sellers and recovered 200 kites with hazardous metal strings.
Earlier, on February 12, a factory raid led to the seizure of 300,000 kites and 10,000 spools of chemical string worth over Rs10 million, with two arrests made. Six more kite sellers were apprehended last month for selling prohibited materials.
The divisional administration has declared a complete ban on kite-flying and selling. Violators face up to three years of imprisonment, a Rs100,000 fine, and a record of the crime added to their police character certificates.Special police teams, aided by drone technology and Safe City cameras, are actively monitoring the city.
