ALBAWABA- At least four people were injured on Tuesday when a blast derailed six bogies of the Jaffar Express in Baluchistan’s Mastung district, officials said, marking the latest in a series of attacks targeting Pakistan’s rail network.
The passenger train, carrying 270 people from Peshawar to Quetta, was passing through Spezand town in Dasht tehsil when explosives planted on the tracks detonated.
“Three people were brought to Civil Hospital Quetta, while an injured child was shifted to Combined Military Hospital,” said Dr. Waseem Baig, spokesperson for the provincial health department.
Pakistan Railways confirmed that a relief train, rescue trucks, and cranes were dispatched from Quetta to assist in recovery efforts.
“The track was blown up with explosives, derailing six bogies. Repair work and clearance will begin at first light,” said Muhammad Kashif, spokesperson for Railways’ Quetta division. Security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation.
The Mastung derailment highlights the persistent threat to transport infrastructure in Baluchistan, where militants have repeatedly targeted railway lines in recent months.
Last month, another Jaffar Express derailment occurred near the same location, days after a Quetta-bound train narrowly escaped a bombing in Sibi. Similar blasts were reported in Jacobabad and along the Quetta-Sibi route earlier this year, though not all caused casualties.
The Jaffar Express has been a frequent target of sabotage. In March, the train was hijacked near Sibi while traveling with over 400 passengers on board.
That attack left 25 people dead, including four security personnel, before the military declared all 33 assailants killed in a two-day operation.
