A powerful explosion ripped through a railway line in Pakistan's Balochistan province on Sunday, killed at least 24 people, authorities said. A train suffered partial damage in the blast, while 10 vehicles parked in the area were also damaged, police said. The impact of the explosion shattered the windows and glass panels of nearby buildings, Geo News reported. According to the statement released by the BLA, Balochistan Liberation Army, they carried out the attack against the Pakistan Army.

 

The explosion occurred on Sunday near Chaman Phatak railway station in Quetta.

Pakistan on high alert

Railway authorities said the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was stopped at Quetta Railway Station after the blast as a precautionary measure, the report added. Babar Yousafzai, the spokesperson to the home minister, said that all relevant institutions have been placed on high alert following an explosion in the city.

He urged the public not to gather near the blast site to ensure safety and allow emergency teams to carry out rescue operations without obstruction.

While the current death toll stands at 24, officials warn that the number may rise as search and rescue operations continue. Over 50 people have been hospitalised, with several reported to be in critical condition.

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Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti condemned the horrific incident, saying that the "terrorists of Fitna Al-Hindustan" are proving their savagery by targeting innocent civilians, women, and children.

Taking it to X, he stressed that those involved in the attack will not be spared, underlining that Balochistan will hunt down and eradicate the terrorists, their facilitators, and their masterminds.

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"I strongly condemn the terrorist incident near Chaman Phatak in Quetta. The terrorists of Fitna Al-Hindustan are proving their savagery by targeting innocent civilians, women, and children. Those who shed the blood of innocent people deserve no leniency. Let the enemy hear this: there will be no safe haven left for terrorists in Balochistan. We will hunt down the terrorists, their facilitators, and their masterminds one by one and bring them to justice, and this war will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated," he wrote.

(With inputs from agencies)

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