Balochistan: Bomb Blast Targets Quetta-Bound Jaffar Express, Injuring 12
A deadly explosion struck the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express in the Spizend area of Mastung on Tuesday, injuring twelve passengers, including women and children.
Railway officials confirmed that six bogies derailed due to the blast, with one carriage overturning and causing multiple injuries, according to reports by Dawn.
This incident marked the second explosion in the region within just ten hours. Earlier on Tuesday morning, a blast occurred near the main railway track connecting Balochistan to other parts of the country, coinciding with the departure of the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express from Quetta Railway Station. While the train was briefly halted, security teams cleared the track, allowing it to resume its journey.
Police confirmed that an improvised explosive device had been planted on the track and detonated as the train passed through Spizend. A senior Pakistan Railways official stated that five passengers were injured in the overturned bogie alone, while others sustained injuries in the derailment of adjacent carriages.
Rescue and law enforcement teams quickly reached the site, transporting the injured to nearby medical facilities. Authorities noted that around 270 passengers were on board at the time, underlining the potentially devastating scale of casualties had the train been traveling at full speed.
The repeated attacks on this railway stretch have raised serious concerns about passenger safety and the security of transport infrastructure in Balochistan, highlighting the vulnerability of key rail lines. Officials and local authorities have called for heightened vigilance and stronger security measures along the route, emphasizing that protecting passengers and ensuring uninterrupted railway services must remain a top priority, according to Dawn.
