A powerful bomb explosion near a railway track in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta has left more than 24 people injured after a passenger train passed through the area on Sunday, officials said.
According to authorities, the blast caused two carriages of the train to derail and catch fire, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air. Footage circulating online showed extensive damage at the scene.
The explosion occurred in an area typically guarded by security forces. Nearby buildings were damaged, and more than a dozen parked vehicles were destroyed or severely affected, witnesses said.
Hospital officials said over 30 injured people were admitted for treatment, with several reported to be in critical condition.
Balochistan government spokesperson Babar Yousafzai said an investigation into the incident is underway, without providing further details.
Quetta, the provincial capital of insurgency-hit Balochistan, has long witnessed violence linked to separatist groups. Militants, including the outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have previously carried out attacks targeting security forces, government installations and civilians.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday’s blast, though suspicion is likely to fall on separatist militants active in the region.