Quetta:
An explosion on a railroad in the Mastung District of Balutchistan derailed six Jaffar Express bogies on Sunday, although no loss of life has been reported, officials said.
The explosion occurred near Spezant at Dasht Tehsil, targeting the passenger train and damaging its locomotive with several coaches, confirmed officials.
According to levies authorities, an explosive device planted on the track has exploded over the train, forcing the engine and five bogies out of the rails. The sudden shock stopped the Jaffar Express.
The rescue teams and the railway staff quickly arrived at the scene to evacuate the passengers and ensure their safety. The security forces sealed the area and launched a research operation to find sabotage officials.
Officials said explosives were made locally, highlighting persistent security problems in the province. The Jaffar Express, which operates between Quetta and Rawalpindi, has previously been the target of similar attacks.
An official survey was launched and following the explosion, the security measures were strengthened in the region. Balutchistan train services to other parts of the country have been temporarily suspended.
The last attack comes just three days after the Jaffar Express disaster, bound for Quetta, narrowly dodged in Sibi, where a bomb planted near the track exploded a few moments after the passenger train.
On July 24, another tight shaving occurred when a powerful explosion torn the Rail Quetta – Sibi section, damaging a BOLAN mail bogie.
Similarly, the Jaffar Express’s derailment of July 28 in Sukkur de Sindh was initially attributed to an explosion. However, the ministry of railways subsequently attributed it to a technical fault.
In June, a remote explosive device detonated adjusted on the tracks derailed four Bogies from the Jaffar Express in Jacobabad. No injury has been reported in this incident.
In April, Karachi’s 3UP train in Quetta was interrupted at Jacobabad station due to security threats.
The train services between Quetta and the rest of the country were only restored on March 27 after being suspended earlier this month due to the unprecedented diversion of the Jaffar Express, linked to Peshawar.
