A powerful explosion on a railway track in Mastung’s Spizand area derailed six carriages of the Peshawar-bound Jaffer Express, leaving four passengers injured and disrupting one of Balochistan’s key transport arteries.
According to officials, the blast targeted the railway line as the Jaffer Express was en route from Peshawar to Quetta with 270 passengers on board. The explosion forced six coaches off the track, triggering chaos and a large-scale rescue operation.
Dr Waseem Baig, spokesperson for Balochistan’s Health Department and Quetta Civil Hospital, confirmed to Dawn.com that three of the injured were shifted to the Trauma Centre at Civil Hospital Quetta, while a child was referred to the Combined Military Hospital.
Railway Quetta Division spokesperson Muhammad Kashif said the track was blown up with explosives, derailing the passenger train. He added that a relief train, rescue trucks, private cranes, and officers had been dispatched from Quetta to assist with recovery efforts. Work on repairing the damaged railway line and removing derailed bogies would begin in daylight, while an official inquiry has been launched.
Security forces cordoned off the area immediately after the blast and launched a search operation.
A Pattern of Attacks
The incident underscores a growing pattern of militant strikes on Balochistan’s transport infrastructure, particularly railway tracks. Just last month, a similar blast occurred near the same location, derailing six bogies of another train.
In recent months, the Jaffer Express has been repeatedly targeted. In Sibi, it narrowly escaped a major attack when a bomb planted near the track exploded moments after the passenger train passed. On July 24, a powerful blast hit the Quetta–Sibi section, damaging one carriage of the Bolan Mail.
Similarly, on July 28, the Jaffer Express derailed in Sindh’s Sukkur district, initially suspected to be the result of a bomb blast, though the Railways Ministry later attributed it to a technical fault. Earlier in June, a remote-controlled IED planted on tracks in Jacobabad caused four bogies of the Jaffer Express to derail—fortunately, without casualties.
Heightened Security Concerns
The series of attacks has raised alarm about the vulnerability of Pakistan’s railway infrastructure, particularly in Balochistan, where insurgents have frequently targeted trains and security convoys to disrupt connectivity and project force.
Authorities said security would be reinforced along vulnerable sections of the Quetta-bound railway to prevent further incidents.
