Deadly blast hits train in Quetta
Separatist attack kills dozens and derails convoy
An explosion struck a train in Quetta, Balochistan, killing at least 24 people and injuring dozens, officials said. The blast derailed a cargo shuttle carrying security personnel and their families, ignited vehicles and carriages, and was followed by gunfire as rescuers and bystanders worked to pull survivors from wreckage. Footage showed thick smoke, burnt cars, damaged buildings and crowds gathered near the site while ambulances and emergency teams treated the wounded and transported many to nearby hospitals.
Provincial government and security sources, speaking anonymously, put the injured toll at around 50–70; authorities said the casualty figures were still being verified. Local residents described widespread destruction to homes along the track and chaotic scenes as emergency crews hosed down fires and clambered through damaged carriages.
A separatist militant group in Balochistan claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted state infrastructure; Pakistani officials condemned the bombing as terrorism and pledged intensified counterterrorism operations. The province, rich in minerals and bordering Iran and Afghanistan, has long been the scene of insurgent strikes on trains, security forces and infrastructure. Security analysts warned that assaults on railways represent a dangerous escalation because of trains’ civilian and economic importance.
Investigators, bomb-disposal teams and forensic experts continued to examine the blast site to determine the device used and whether secondary threats remained. Authorities secured the area amid fears of further attacks, deployed additional security forces across Quetta, and hospitals issued emergency measures and appeals for blood donations as many victims remained in critical condition.
