Over 24 people were reportedly killed and 50 others injured in southwest Pakistan after a powerful bomb exploded near a railway track in Quetta. The explosion was targeting a train carrying army personnel and their families from Quetta to Peshawar, news agency AFP reported.
An explosive-laden car hit one of the train carriages when it was passing a signal at Chaman Pattak in Quetta, an official reportedly said, adding that the collision caused a “big blast”.
Army servicemen were among the victims.
In the aftermath of the powerful blast, two bogies of the train were seen overturned and on fire, with thick black smoke billowing out of it. Some vehicles parked near the explosion site were also damaged, news agency AP reported, citing witnesses.
Balochistan government official Babar Yousafzai said authorities were still investigating the blast, but gave no further details, the report further added.
Visuals from the blast site also showed buildings nearby in shambles, people perched atop overturned bogies, trying to catch hold of those caught.
Balochistan has been at the centre of unrest several times, with groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) seeking independence from Pakistan’s central government.
The incident comes one year after a passenger train carrying 400 people was hijacked by militants in Balochistan province when it was headed to Peshwar from Quetta. The BLA had claimed responsibility for the hijack. Back then, all 33 terrorists involved in attacking the train were killed by the Pakistani forces, and hundreds of passengers were rescued.
More recently in October 2025, multiple coaches of the Jaffar Express were derailed in the Sindh Province due to a blast, injuring several passengers.
