By: Smartencyclopedia News Bureau with Agencies
November 9, 2024

At least 26 people, including 14 soldiers, were killed in a powerful explosion on Saturday at a railway station in Quetta, Pakistan. The blast, which targeted a platform just as the Peshawar-bound express was about to depart, injured over 50 others, according to officials. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, has claimed responsibility, identifying the incident as a suicide attack.

Senior Superintendent of Police Muhammad Baloch confirmed an investigation is underway, with bomb disposal teams actively gathering evidence from the scene. Emergency teams were swiftly deployed, and local hospitals declared a state of emergency to treat the influx of casualties. Wasim Baig, a spokesperson for Quetta’s Sandeman Provincial Hospital, reported that the dead included 14 soldiers and 12 civilians, while 46 members of the security forces and 14 civilians were among the wounded.

The Edhi Rescue Service and police quickly secured the station and began evacuating the injured. Witnesses described scenes of panic as travelers rushed to safety amid heavy smoke and debris. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind stated that both police and military forces are working to secure the area, and a formal investigation report is expected soon.

This latest attack follows a pattern of increasing violence in Balochistan, where both separatist and Islamist militant groups have escalated attacks on security personnel and public infrastructure. In August, over 70 people were killed in coordinated attacks targeting police stations and rail lines in the province.

The BLA’s recent attack underscores the challenging security landscape in Pakistan, where ethnic and religious militant groups continue to launch strikes across multiple regions.