By Our Correspondent
QUETTA: As many as 14 people lost their lives and multiple others sustained injuries after a powerful explosion struck a shuttle train near Chaman Phatak in Quetta on Sunday morning, officials confirmed.
In a statement, Shahid Rind, an aide to chief minister said, number of martyrs in the blast has touched to 14 people.
According to railway authorities, the train was travelling from Quetta Cantonment to the city’s railway station when the blast occurred shortly after 8am near Chaman Phatak. The exact nature of the explosion was not immediately determined.
The explosion caused severe damage to the train, derailing three coaches, including the locomotive, while two compartments overturned. Nearby houses and vehicles were also damaged due to the intensity of the blast, which was heard across different areas of Quetta.
Security forces, police, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and bomb disposal squads quickly reached the scene and cordoned off the area. Rescue teams launched emergency operations while ambulances shifted the injured to nearby hospitals.
Authorities declared a medical emergency in Quetta hospitals, directing all doctors, paramedical staff, and emergency personnel to report for duty immediately. Officials said the injured were being provided urgent medical assistance and the best possible treatment facilities.
Pakistan Railways dispatched rescue trucks and a relief train to support emergency and recovery operations at the site.
Footage circulating on social media showed thick smoke rising from the damaged train and several vehicles engulfed in flames. Reports said around 10 vehicles, mostly small cars parked near the railway track, were charred in the fire before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control after extensive efforts.
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind strongly condemned the attack, calling it an act of terrorism targeting innocent civilians. He said the provincial government was deeply saddened over the loss of precious lives and vowed that those responsible would not escape justice.
Chief Minister of Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti said he was personally monitoring the situation. In a statement, he alleged that “Fitna al Hindustan” militants were behind the attack and accused them of targeting innocent civilians, including women and children.
The provincial government reiterated that no safe haven would be allowed for terrorists in Balochistan and pledged strict action against militants, facilitators, and masterminds involved in the incident.
Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi also condemned the attack, describing it as a cowardly act of terrorism aimed at spreading fear and instability in the country.
He directed authorities to submit an immediate report on the incident and reaffirmed that Pakistan Railways operations would continue without interruption despite the attack. The minister further alleged that anti-Pakistan elements operating from India and Afghanistan were supporting militant activities to destabilise the country.
Investigations into the blast are underway as authorities continue rescue and clearance operations at the site.
