A passenger train derailed in central Pakistan on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of five people and injuring 35 others, officials said. The incident occurred in Sher Shah city, located in the Punjab province, while the train was traveling from Karachi in the south to Peshawar in the northwest.

According to Kaleem Akhtar, a spokesperson for Pakistan Railways, rescuers recovered four bodies from the scene and evacuated the injured passengers from the train’s 14 carriages. Emergency responders and paramedics were dispatched promptly to assist those affected. One of the injured died before reaching the hospital, officials added.

The injured passengers were transported to local hospitals for treatment. In response to the accident, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued statements expressing sorrow over the loss of lives and calling on authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical care.

Train accidents remain a frequent occurrence in Pakistan due to longstanding challenges within the country’s railway infrastructure. Years of underinvestment have left the system burdened with outdated tracks and aging signaling technology, contributing to safety risks. A major derailment in 2023 in southern Pakistan resulted in 30 fatalities and more than 90 injuries, highlighting ongoing concerns about railway safety across the country.