At least 24 people were killed and over 50 others injured after a powerful explosion struck a train carrying military personnel near Chaman Phatak railway station in Pakistan’s Balochistan province on Sunday. The blast occurred near the railway track in Quetta and partially damaged the train, while at least 10 nearby vehicles were also hit in the explosion. Preliminary reports suggested a possible suicide bombing targeting security forces. The force of the blast shattered windows and glass panels of surrounding buildings, GeoTV reported. Emergency teams rushed the injured to nearby hospitals as panic spread across the area. Soon after the explosion, the Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as a “fidayeen” or suicide mission targeting Pakistani military personnel travelling on the train. According to AFP, several army personnel were among those killed in the attack in Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan. Officials said the train, carrying military personnel along with their family members, was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar as many passengers were heading home for Eid holidays. The explosion reportedly took place when the train was crossing a signal point near Chaman Phatak. Visuals from the site showed a mangled train carriage overturned near the tracks, while rescue workers and locals climbed over twisted metal debris in a desperate search for survivors. Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, has witnessed repeated militant attacks in recent years, particularly targeting railway infrastructure, police checkpoints and paramilitary installations. The city has remained a focal point of violence linked to separatist insurgent groups and Islamist militant organisations operating in southwestern Pakistan. The latest explosion comes against the backdrop of escalating violence across Balochistan. In recent years, attacks involving railway tracks, suicide bombings and coordinated assaults on security installations have increased significantly. The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), one of the region’s most active separatist groups, has previously claimed responsibility for several deadly attacks in Quetta, including the 2024 Quetta railway station bombing that killed more than 30 people. Authorities are yet to confirm the identity of the attackers or whether the railway tracks themselves were the primary target. Emergency teams and ambulances were rushed to the scene as rescue operations continued late into the night.zz Megha Rawat is an Assistant News Editor at Times Now, where she drives the national news narrative with sharp political reporting, election coverage a... View More