Quetta:
An explosion on a railway track in Balochistan’s Mastung District on Sunday, six bogies by Jaffar Express derived, although no loss of life was reported, officials said.
The explosion happened near Spezant in Dasht Tehsil, targeted at the passenger train and damaged its locomotive with several coaches, officials confirmed.
According to the Levies authorities, an explosive equipment detonated on the track as the train passed, forcing the engine and five bogies out of the rails. The sudden shock brought Jaffar Express to a sudden stop.
Rescue teams and rail staff quickly arrived at the stage to evacuate passengers and secure their safety. Security forces sealed the area and launched a search operation to track those responsible for sabotage.
Officials said the explosives were locally produced, which highlighted persistent security concerns in the province. Jaffar Express, which operates between Quetta and Rawalpindi, has previously been the target of similar attacks.
A formal study has been initiated and in the wake of the explosion, security measures were increased throughout the region. Balochistan train services to other parts of the country were temporarily suspended.
The latest attack comes just three days after the quetta-bound Jaffar Express narrowly evaded disaster in Sibi, where a bomb planted near the track exploded moments after the passenger train had passed.
On July 24, another close shaving emerged when a strong explosion tore through Quetta -Sibi -Jernbanes section and damaged a bogie of the Bolan email.
Similarly, on July 28, Jaffar Express in Sindh’s Sukkur was originally blamed for an explosion. However, the Ministry of Railways attributed it to a technical error.
In June, a distant explosive explosion device that was mounted on the tracks detonated four bogies from Jaffar Express to derail in Jacobabad. No damage was reported in this incident.
Back in April, the 3UP train from Karachi to Quetta was stopped at Jacobabad Railway Station due to security threats.
Train services between Quetta and the rest of the country were only restored on March 27 after being suspended earlier that month due to the unprecedented hijack of the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express.
