An explosion rocked Quetta’s railway station on Saturday morning, claiming at least 25 lives and injuring at least 56 others.
The blast occurred just as passengers were preparing for departures. Officials predict that the death toll may rise.
Rescue and security teams swiftly responded to the incident and shifted the bodies and the injured to Quetta's Civil Hospital for medical attention. Some of the injured were also being treated at the trauma centre.
Emergency has been declared in the Civil Hospital and doctors and paramedical staff immediately called for duty.
Railway officials said that at the time of the blast, which occurred near the ticket booth, two trains were scheduled to depart, and a large number of passengers was present on the platform.
Police surgeon Dr Ayesha said the death toll in the explosion had reached 25 and 56 injured were undergoing treatment in different hospitals. She said the victims included a woman and five railway employees. She further said 14 security forces personnel were also martyred in the blast.
SSP (Operations) Muhammad Baloch told the media that at the time of the blast, a large number of passengers were present on the platform to depart in two trains. Jafar Express was about to leave for Peshawar, Baloch said, adding that the Crime Scene Unit reached the spot and the nature of the blast was being determined. He further suspected it to be a suicide blast.
Later, Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat confirmed it was a suicide blast that killed 24 people. He further said the injured were under treatment at the Civil Hospital and CMH and advised citizens to be cautious to avoid another explosion.
Also Read: PM Shehbaz, political leadership condemn Quetta blast
He said security had been alerted in the city, and railway authorities asked to close the railway station. Hamza claimed common citizens and security forces were targeted in the blast. "Terrorists hit soft targets," the commissioner maintained.
The Railway Police chief told the media that 18 police personnel were posted at the railway station. He added that it was being determined where the security lapse happened.
Security forces have cordoned off the area, initiating an inquiry into the nature of the blast.
Shahid Rind, the spokesperson for the provincial government, claimed police and security teams had reached the spot, adding that a report about the incident had been sought.
He further said that the nature of the blast was being determined, while emergency had been declared in hospitals. The spokesman further said that the extent of damages was also being calculated.
