The explosion was so intense that the iron roof of the platform blew off (Photo: AFP).
The death toll has reached 26, while more than 60 people have been injured in a suicide bombing at the railway station in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.
Among the dead, according to officials 10 Military personnel are also involved. The majority of the injured are security personnel.
The explosion took place on Saturday morning on the platform of the railway station in the center of the city when a large number of passengers were there. The outlawed Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for the blast, saying that the attack was carried out by its suicide squad, the Majeed Brigade.
According to Deputy Commissioner Quetta Lt Retired Saad bin Asad, the attack was a suicide in which civilian passengers were also targeted in addition to security forces personnel.
According to officials, the army personnel were returning to their native areas after completing a training course in Quetta. The suicide bomber approached them on the platform and blew himself up.
Railway Controller Quetta Mohammad Kashif said that the blast took place on platform number one in front of gate number two where the passengers of Jafar Express from Quetta to Rawalpindi to Peshawar were waiting.
He said that the train was supposed to leave at nine in the morning. The train reaches the platform half an hour before departure, the explosion took place before the train reached the platform.
He said that at the time of the explosion, the passenger train going to Chaman was standing at platform number two, while some passengers of the Bolan mail going to Karachi at 10 o’clock also left before time. They had reached the station.
He said that the passengers of three trains were present at the station, so there was a lot of rush among them besides the security personnel, ordinary passengers, women. And children were included.
The explosion was so intense that the iron roof of the platform blew off. The railway station building has also been partially damaged.
Eyewitnesses
According to the eyewitnesses, after the explosion, screams started everywhere, the injured were moaning in pain. Passengers’ luggage was scattered. The platform was stained with human blood and human organs were visible in places.’
Railway Controller Muhammad Kashif said that ‘I reached the spot immediately after the explosion, there was a very bad situation, there was destruction everywhere, even the clothes of people’s bodies were burnt.’
Sona Masih, who lost his brother Ayaz Masih in the blast, said that he left home for duty at seven in the morning.
‘I immediately reached the station when I heard a loud explosion around 8:30. There was a very bad situation, injured and dead bodies were seen everywhere. My brother was also lying in the pile of dead bodies. He died on the spot.’
Quetta Police SSP Operations Muhammad Baloch said that due to the rush of passengers, more lives were lost.
He said, ‘Initially we thought that the explosives were placed in some equipment, but now it has been confirmed that it was a suicide attack. Police have started investigation by collecting CCTV footage and other evidence from the crime scene.
He added that more than 100 people were present on the platform at the time of the explosion.
A CTD officer said that six to seven kilograms of explosives and ball bearings were used in the suicide attack. The organs of the suicide bomber have been taken into custody. Assistance will be taken from NADRA for identification. The evidence will be taken from the crime scene and sent to Lahore for forensics.
According to Balochistan Government Spokesman Shahid Rind, ‘Railway police is responsible for the security of the railway station. According to him, there were general threats in Quetta and the specific conditions of the province, but the government did not have any threat alert regarding targeting a particular railway station.
Railway Police DSP Shahid Shahnawaz said that the railway police at the railway station 18 Officials were present. There is a walk-through gate at the main gate of the station, However, several ways to enter the station are open due to which there are security problems.
According to the CTD officer, it is initially known that the assailant disguised himself as a passenger and entered through an unsecured route.
‘Terrorists who target innocent people are not pitiful’
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has condemned the blast at Quetta railway station.
He said that ‘terrorists who target innocent people are not pitiable. Action against terrorists in the province is ongoing, terrorists involved in several incidents have been caught.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the explosion near Quetta railway station and said that the loss of life and property of innocent and unsuspecting citizens. The terrorists who deliver will have to pay a heavy price.’
According to the official news agency APP, the Prime Minister said that the government and security forces are fully active to eradicate the monster of terrorism.
