At least 24 people were killed and dozens injured after a powerful explosion struck a railway track near Chaman Phatak in Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province on Sunday, officials said.
The blast occurred close to Quetta Railway Station when a passenger train was moving through the area. Authorities said several coaches were damaged in the explosion, while panic spread among passengers and residents nearby. Rescue workers and security personnel rushed to the site immediately after the incident.
According to local officials, around 10 vehicles parked near the railway crossing were also damaged due to the intensity of the blast. Thick smoke was seen rising from the scene as emergency teams carried out rescue operations.
Government hospitals across Quetta declared an emergency following the attack. Doctors, paramedics, and additional medical staff were called in to treat the injured, many of whom were reported to be in critical condition.
Railway authorities temporarily halted train operations in the area after the explosion. The Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was stopped at Quetta Railway Station as a precautionary measure while security forces searched the surrounding area.
Babar Yousafzai, spokesperson for the provincial home minister, confirmed that all relevant institutions had been placed on high alert. Security agencies have launched an investigation to determine the nature of the explosion and identify those responsible.
Initial reports suggested the blast targeted security personnel traveling on the train, though civilians were also among the casualties. The separatist militant group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) later claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as an operation against Pakistani security forces.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least developed province, has long witnessed violence linked to separatist insurgent groups. Militants frequently target railway infrastructure, security personnel, and government installations in the region.
The latest attack has once again raised concerns over security challenges in the province, particularly involving public transport and key infrastructure. Investigations into the blast are ongoing.
(Image source : Wikimedia Commons)
