Daily Times

QUETTA: At least six passengers were killed and 21 others, including a woman, sustained injuries when bombs ripped through two passenger coaches of the Rawalpindi-bound Jaffar Express between Mach and Aab-e-Gum area of Kachhi district on Friday.

Pakistan Railways Quetta Divisional Superintendent Hanif Gul said that unidentified men had planted two bombs on the railway track in the area, some seven kilometres off Mach Railway Station.

“Six bodies were brought to the hospital along with 21 injured passengers,” said a source in Quetta. “Jaffar Express left Quetta Railway Station at around 9 am for Rawalpindi and after few minutes’ stay at Mach Railway Station, it was on moving towards Sibi when the train was targeted by terrorists,” an official said.

The locomotive of the train was also partially damaged, while coaches number 3 and 5 were hit the most.

Rescue teams, including an Army Aviation helicopter crew, rushed to the scene and airlifted 10 injured passengers to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), while 11 other injured were shifted to Quetta by road. According to the doctors, some of the injured were in a life-threatening situation.

According to the bomb disposal squad, at least 5kg explosives were used in the attack. Law enforcement agencies cordoned off the entire area to trace the culprits.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the bomb blasts and expressed deep grief over the loss of precious lives.