At least 24 people died, and dozens more were injured after a powerful bomb exploded near a railway track targeting a train carrying military personnel in Pakistan’s turbulent southwestern province of Balochistan.
According to reports, the train was passing a signal at Chaman Pattak in Quetta when a car with explosives hit one of its carriages – resulting in a huge blast.
Many army soldiers and their family members – who were on their way to Peshawar – were among the victims. They were travelling to celebrate the Eid holiday, which is due to begin on Tuesday, reported news agency AFP.
The force of the explosion caused two of the train coaches to overturn and catch fire.
Photo Credit: AFP
A thick black smoke can be seen rising into the air. Images also showed a mangled train carriage on its side as people climbed over the wreckage to find survivors.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
People were seen carrying blood-soaked victims on stretchers away from a derailed car, while armed security forces stood guard.
Many cars parked nearly 25 to 30 metres away from the railway tracks were completely burnt. Next to them, a multi-storeyed building also suffered structural damage with its windows blown out and walls collapsed.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack, indicating it to be a suicide blast.
“This morning, the Majeed Brigade, the fidayee (self-sacrificing) unit of the Baloch Liberation Army, targeted a train transporting personnel of the occupying forces from Quetta Cantt in a highly organised fidayee attack. The Baloch Liberation Army accepts full responsibility for this operation,” the BLA said in a statement.
It added, “Detailed information regarding the operation, along with the specific material and human casualties inflicted upon the enemy as a result of the attack, will be released shortly in an official statement to the media.”
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