More than 50 people were injured, the Pakistan Observer reported

© REUTERS/Naseer Ahmed

ISLAMABAD, May 24. /TASS/. The death toll from the train bombing in the city of Quetta in southwestern Pakistan has risen to 24, with more than 50 people being injured, the Pakistan Observer newspaper reported.

According to the newspaper, among those killed are three servicemen of the Pakistani border corps. The Balochistan Liberation Army, BLA, a separatist group banned in Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Earlier reports put the number of those killed at 16, with more than 20 people being hurt. According to the Associated Press of Pakistan agency, the blast occurred near the Chaman Pattak area after an explosive device that had been planted at the railway tracks went off as a passenger train was passing by. Three carriages of the train derailed while two more went upturned following the blast. Cars parked nearby were also damaged.

Balochistan accounted for 29% of 5,397 terror attacks that were committed in Pakistan in 2025 and claimed the lives of 1,235 people. This province has a long shared border with Afghanistan that, according to the Pakistani authorities, harbors terrorists’ camps.

At least 24 people, including three Frontier Corps (FC) personnel, were martyred and more than 50 others were injured when an explosion took place near the railway track close to Chaman Phatak in Quetta on Sunday.

The banned separatist outfit Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack.

According to reports, the explosion caused extensive damage to several houses and buildings located near the railway track. Some train coaches were also overturned by the impact, with parts of the train catching fire.

An emergency was imposed at government hospitals across Quetta, where doctors and medical personnel were directed to remain on duty to handle the situation. Videos circulating on social media showed burned vehicles and overturned train coaches, while thick black smoke could be seen rising from the area.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said that several women and children were also among the injured and were immediately shifted to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. He stated that the attack targeted innocent civilians, adding that such incidents at public locations reflect the desperation of militant groups.

Security forces swiftly sealed off the area and launched an investigation, with evidence collection currently underway, he added.

Railway officials said the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was halted at Quetta Railway Station as a precaution after the explosion.

Home Minister’s spokesperson Babar Yousafzai said all relevant institutions had been placed on high alert following the incident. He also appealed to the public to avoid gathering near the blast site so that rescue and emergency operations could proceed without hindrance.

According to police, the blast caused partial damage to a train in the area, while around 10 parked vehicles were affected. The force of the explosion further shattered windowpanes and glass panels of nearby buildings, spreading panic in the vicinity.

In response to the incident, authorities declared an emergency in government hospitals across Quetta, directing doctors and medical staff to remain on high alert to deal with the influx of casualties.

Railway officials confirmed that the Peshawar-bound Jaffar Express was halted at Quetta Railway Station as a precautionary measure following the blast.

Pakistan has witnessed a series of attacks by separatist groups in recent months, with violence escalating in intensity. Militants have also targeted Chinese nationals working on development projects linked to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which connects China’s Xinjiang region with Pakistan’s Gwadar port in Balochistan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack in a statement shared on X, saying such cowardly acts could not undermine the determination of the Pakistani people.

Railways Minister Hanif Abbasi:

Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has strongly denounced the explosion in Quetta, calling it a cowardly act of terrorism that would not shake the nation’s resolve.

He said that hostile networks allegedly operating from India and Afghanistan would never be allowed to achieve their objectives.

Ad powered by advergic.com

According to the minister, a shuttle train departing from Quetta Cantonment was targeted in an explosion near Chaman Phatak, causing the engine and three coaches to derail. He added that security personnel quickly sealed off the area and began a rescue and relief operation.

Rescue vehicles and a relief train were promptly sent to assist ongoing efforts at the site.

Abbasi described terrorists as enemies of both humanity and the state, vowing that they would be dealt with decisively. He further assured that Pakistan Railways operations would continue without disruption and instructed officials to submit an urgent report on the incident.