At least 24 people were reportedly killed and around 50 others injured after a powerful bomb explosion struck near a railway track in Quetta, southwest Pakistan. According to AFP, the attack targeted a train carrying army personnel and their families from Quetta to Peshawar.
Officials said an explosives-laden car crashed into one of the train coaches while the train was passing a signal point at Chaman Pattak in Quetta. The collision triggered a “big blast”, causing massive destruction.
Army Personnel Among Victims
Several army servicemen were among those killed and injured in the explosion. The attack caused panic among passengers and nearby residents due to the intensity of the blast.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims. Rescue teams and security personnel rushed to the spot soon after the incident.
Coaches Overturned and Set on Fire
Following the explosion, two bogies of the train overturned and caught fire. Thick black smoke covered the area as flames spread through the damaged coaches.
Witnesses quoted by AP said some vehicles parked near the blast site were also damaged. Visuals from the scene showed people standing on top of overturned bogies while trying to rescue those trapped inside.
Nearby buildings were also left badly damaged because of the powerful explosion.
Investigation Underway
Balochistan government official Babar Yousafzai said authorities had started investigating the blast. However, he did not share further details about the cause of the attack or the group behind it.
Security agencies have reportedly sealed the area and launched rescue and search operations.
Balochistan Faces Repeated Violence
Balochistan has remained one of Pakistan’s most troubled regions for years. Militant groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have repeatedly carried out attacks while demanding independence from Pakistan’s central government.
The province has witnessed several bombings, attacks on security forces, and assaults on public infrastructure over the years.
Similar Attacks in Recent Years
The latest blast comes nearly a year after militants hijacked a passenger train carrying around 400 people in Balochistan while it was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. The BLA had claimed responsibility for that attack.
Pakistani security forces later killed all 33 terrorists involved in the hijacking and rescued hundreds of passengers.
More recently, in October 2025, multiple coaches of the Jaffar Express derailed in Sindh province after a blast, leaving several passengers injured.