Bomb Blast Derails Six Train Carriages in Balochistan: All Passengers Safe

A major incident occurred in Balochistan’s Mastung district on Sunday when a bomb planted on a railway track exploded, derailing six carriages of the Jaffar Express. The train was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar with 350 passengers at the time of the blast, but fortunately, no injuries or loss of life were reported.

According to Muhammad Kashif, spokesperson for Pakistan Railways’ Quetta division, the explosion took place close to Spezand station in Mastung’s Dasht area. Security personnel and rescue services swiftly arrived at the scene, cordoning off the area and launching a search operation.

Efforts to restore normalcy began promptly; four of the derailed carriages were soon placed back on track, while work continues on the remaining two. A relief train was dispatched, successfully transporting all 350 passengers back to Quetta. Kashif also confirmed that tickets for the affected journey would be completely refunded.

In response to the incident, services of the Jaffar Express and Bolan Mail have been suspended until August 14. The Bolan Mail will resume operations from Karachi on August 16 and is due to arrive in Quetta the following day.

This incident follows a string of similar attacks targeting railway lines in Balochistan. Just three days earlier, another bomb detonated near the tracks moments after the Jaffar Express passed in Sibi. In July, explosions damaged the Bolan Mail and led to another derailment, although subsequent investigations by rail authorities attributed the latter incident to technical issues rather than sabotage. Earlier incidents in June and March also saw passenger trains affected by bombs and even hijackings.

Pakistan Railways and local security forces continue to investigate these events and are working to improve safety along the nation’s rail routes.