A heavy explosion derailed five carriages of the Jaffer Express on Monday near Sultan Kot, Shikarpur, leaving several passengers injured and prompting a large-scale rescue operation.
According to officials, the injured were swiftly transported to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment, while rescue teams and law enforcement personnel reached the site to assist passengers and secure the area.
Police and Rangers have cordoned off the blast site and launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion. Preliminary reports suggest that the railway track suffered extensive damage, indicating the possible use of a powerful explosive device.
The Jaffer Express, which was en route from Peshawar to Quetta, was struck near the Sultan Kot Railway Station when the blast occurred. Authorities have yet to confirm the total number of injuries, but rescue and recovery operations continue under tight security.
This marks yet another attack on the Jaffer Express in recent months. In August, a similar bomb blast on the tracks near Mastung derailed six bogies of the train, though no fatalities were reported at that time.
Earlier, in June, a remotely controlled explosive device fitted to the railway tracks near Jacobabad’s cattle market caused the derailment of four bogies, disrupting service and raising alarm over the safety of interprovincial rail travel.
On March 11, 2025, the Jaffer Express was targeted by militants belonging to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) while travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. That attack led to a major security operation, during which all 33 attackers were neutralized by security forces.
The repeated targeting of the Jaffer Express underscores growing concerns over the vulnerability of Pakistan’s railway infrastructure and the persistent threat posed by militant groups operating in Balochistan and Sindh.
