In Pakistan Quetta railway station blast claims 21 lives, leaves 30 injured, Emergency declared at Civil Hospital Quetta; blast reported near booking office
An explosion occurred in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, on Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least 21 people and injuring 30 others. Early reports indicate the blast took place at the booking office of the railway station, just before a train was scheduled to arrive. Given the station’s usual crowd, the potential for casualties was high.
Police and rescue teams responded quickly, while Quetta’s Civil Hospital declared an emergency, calling in extra medical staff. The Jaffer Express, scheduled to depart for Peshawar at 9am, had not yet reached the platform when the explosion occurred. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise, as several of the injured are in critical condition.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Quetta, Muhammad Baloch, stated that the blast appeared to be a suicide attack, though an investigation is ongoing. He confirmed the explosion took place inside the station, moments before the Peshawar-bound train was due to depart. The blast, which also caused damage to the platform’s roof, was heard across the city.
Bomb disposal experts were examining the site, and further updates regarding the nature of the explosion would follow. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed the death toll and reported that nearly 40 people were injured, with 10 in critical condition. He added that Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti had canceled his foreign trip and called an emergency meeting to address the situation.
When asked about potential threats, Rind said there were no specific warnings, though a general security threat remained due to the province’s ongoing law and order challenges. Both Rind and SSP Baloch expressed suspicion that the blast was a suicide attack, though this would be confirmed after the bomb disposal squad’s assessment.
Condemnations of the attack came from across the political spectrum, with Acting President Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani calling the terrorists behind the attack enemies of humanity. He pledged to take all necessary steps to combat terrorism. Similarly, Balochistan’s Chief Minister Bugti emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the incident and reaffirmed his commitment to eradicating terrorism in the province. Sindh’s Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah, also condemned the attack, expressing deep sorrow for the lives lost in this act of terrorism and denouncing the efforts of anti-state elements to spread fear.
