At least seven passengers were killed and 13 others were injured including a woman police constable of Pakistan Railways as Quetta-bound Jaffar Express was targeted by miscreants in Naseerabad district of Balochistan, official sources said Monday.
"Jaffar Express was on way to Quetta from Rawalpindi when it was struck by a bomb planted by the miscreants in Notal area, near Dera Murad Jamali," Home Secretary Balochistan, Asad Gailani told APP adding as a result of explosion, four bogies derailed, killing seven passengers on the spot and leaving 13 injured. Of them condition of six people is stated to be critical.
The dead were identified as PR woman police constable Bashiran Bibi, Naeem, Nadeem and Wasim while injured as Shizan, Mohammad Arif, Noor Elahi, Alishba, Nadeem, Sanwwan, Arz Mohammad, Farooq, Salamat, Zeeshan, Umair and Bibi Allah Rakhi. "Rail service between Balochistan and other provinces has been suspended, and a special train has left for the Notal to carry the stranded passengers to Quetta," Pakistan Railways (PR) spokesman said.
Divisional Superintendent of PR, Quetta-Sibi Section Faiz Mohammad Bugti and other officials have reached the site and supervised rescue operation. The Home Secretary Balochistan said it was uncertain to comment on it in the first phase of rescue. However, PR police official said it was a time device and explosive planted to target passenger train was about five kilograms. The officials added that among dead there were three real brothers.
The train was carrying hundreds of passengers from Punjab to Balochistan. Of them majority were returning to Balochistan after spending Eid holidays in their native towns. The blast was so powerful that it left a huge crater at the place of blast causing train suspension. Soon after the incident, local administration reached the site and started shifting the injured to CMH Sibi and Dera Murad Jamali Hospital, while, the railway authorities has also initiated rescue operation to send the stranded passengers to their destinations.
After the mishap, PR has suspended train operation from Quetta. Quetta destined Bolan Mail and Akbar Bugti Express have been stopped at Jacobabad railway station. The passengers of the trains would be reimbursed the fare of the train, PR official said. Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch and Governor Balochistan Mohammad Khan Achakzai, in strong terms condemned the incident and ordered the officials to help the stranded passengers and provide best medical facilities to the injured. Terming it an incident of terrorism, the CM Balochistan has sought detailed report from the home department.
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