Blast derails Jaffar Express near Jacobabad

SUKKUR: Five bogies of Jaffar Express derailed after a blast took place on a railway track near Jacobabad on Wednesday.

Railways officials said a powerful explosion targeted Jaffar Express near Jail Road in Jocobabad on Sindh-Balochistan border, causing five bogies of the train to derail. Jaffar Express was traveling from Peshawar to Quetta. The explosion damaged the railway line, disrupting train services in the area, however, no casualties were reported, they added.

The security forces cordoned off the area and launched a rescue operation to secure the area and assess the damage. The attack on Jaffar Express is part of a disturbing trend where railway lines across the country are being targeted by militants, raising concerns over the safety of train passengers and infrastructure. The passengers of Jaffar Express were sent to their destination by buses.

Jacobabad SSP Saddam Hussain Khaskheli, while talking to the media at the explosion site, said that the blast seems to have been caused a time bomb or a remote-controlled bomb.

On the other hand, a bomb disposal squad from Sukkur reached the spot and started collecting evidence. According to a bomb disposal squad official, the explosion was carried out with a remote-controlled bomb, however further investigation is underway. The railway repair teams started repair work on the affected railway track and said that it might take six to seven hours to restore the track. Meanwhile, Sindh IGP Ghulam Nabi Memon, taking notice of the incident, ordered the Jacobabad SSP to report to CPO Karachi, while Muhammad Kaleem was posted as Jacobabad SSP.

Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar directed the formation of an intelligence-based team to arrest the culprits involved in the explosion.