pkuser2k12
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2012
- Messages
- 6,460
- Reaction score
- 3
- Country
- Location
Jaffar Express struck by explosion; seven killed
The train was en-route to Quetta from Rawalpindi and the explosion occured when it was passing through Dera Murad Jamali district of the restive Balochistan province. — File Photo
DERA MURAD JAMALI: At least seven persons were killed and 16 injured when a passenger train was struck by a bomb explosion in Balochistan's Naseerabad district on Monday, police said.
Asad Gilani, the Home Secretary Balochistan told Dawn.com militants targeted Jaffar Express using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Notal area of Naseerabad district.
"When the train reached Notal, there were huge explosions", Gilani said.
He said the blasts damaged a portion of the railway track and three bogies of train.
The train was carrying hundreds of passengers from Punjab province who were returning to Balochistan after Eid holidays.
The Home Secretary said the seven people, including two women, who were killed in the incident were all passengers. He added that the condition of six injured was reported as serious.
Riaz Ahmed, Quetta's Superintendent of Police (Railways) said the bomb was planted on the track which went off when the train reached Notal, adding that three brothers were also among the dead.
He further said that Divisional Superintendent Railway and other officials were en route to the blast site in order to file a report over the incident.
Zafar Shah Bukhari, a senior official in the area, also confirmed the bomb attack and death toll.
Bukhari said the Jaffar Express was travelling from Rawalpindi to Quetta, the main town of Baluchistan province when the explosion occurred, derailing several bogies.
“We have taken the dead bodies and injured to the nearby hospital,” Bukhari said, adding that the condition of six of the injured was critical.
Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Malik Baloch strongly condemned the attack at and termed it a terrorist act while ordering the local administration to submit a report over the incident.
The chief minister also instructed the Balochistan government to provide medical treatment to all injured.
The incident led to the suspension of railway traffic between Balochistan and other parts of Pakistan.
The train service was expected to resume after repair of the damaged track and security clearance, a railway official told Dawn.com on the condition of anonymity.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.
However, senior police officials suspected that Baloch rebels were responsible for the attack.
The banned Baloch Republican Army is active in the area and have been targeting vital national installations including gas pipelines and power pylons and security forces in the area for more than a decade.
SOURCE:
DAWN NEWS
Jaffar Express struck by explosion; seven killed - DAWN.COM
@Leader @Jazzbot @chauvunist @RangerPK @Slav Defence @mafiya @Peaceful Civilian @ice_man @Side-Winder @jaibi @W.11 @Spring Onion @F.O.X @forcetrip @Zarvan @Jzaib
Last edited by a moderator: