Powerful explosion hits train carrying army families in Pakistan’s Quetta; around 30 injured

Bomb blast near Quetta passenger train leaves 30 injured (Pic/AFP)

A powerful bomb exploded near a railway track in Pakistan. As reported by AP, the blast happened when a train carrying passengers passed through Quetta.

Officials further highlighted that the blast wounded more than two dozen people, as per AP.

Doctors from the hospital said that local hospitals had received over 30 people, with several in critical condition.

As per AFP, images surfacing from Quetta showed a mangled train carriage on its side as people clambered over the wreckage to find survivors.

People could be seen carrying blood-soaked victims on stretchers away from a derailed car, while armed security forces stood guard.

Paksitan Army personnel and their families were on the train

One of the Pakistani officials, while talking to the media, said, "The train carrying army personnel and their family members was going from Quetta to Peshawar in Pakistan's northwest," with inputs from AFP.

The train was passing a signal at Chaman Pattak in Quetta, "when an explosive-laden car hit one of the carriages that resulted in a big blast", the official said.

Windows were blown out, and nearby vehicles were destroyed in the explosion.

Another official told the media that the army personnel were travelling to celebrate the Eid holiday, which is due to start on Tuesday.

Balochistan is Pakistan's poorest province and largest by landmass. It lags behind the rest of the country in almost every index, including education, employment and economic development.

Baloch separatists accuse Pakistan's government of exploiting the province's natural gas and abundant mineral resources without benefiting the local population.

(With inputs from AP and AFP)