ISLAMABAD: Four bogies of the Jaffar Express derailed on Tuesday morning following an explosion on the track near Humayoon town in Shikarpur district. The blast injured seven passengers, though officials confirmed there were no fatalities. According to Shikarpur Deputy Commissioner Shakeel Ahmed Abro, the incident occurred around 8:15 a.m. when the train was traveling from Peshawar to Quetta.
He stated that the injured passengers were immediately moved to Shikarpur Civil Hospital for treatment. Those hurt included railway official Muhammad Shafique, Muhammad Younis, Hawaldar Javed, constable Abdul Rahman, constable Azhar Jameel, and two unidentified passengers. Four of the more seriously injured were later transferred to a military hospital for further medical care.
Deputy Commissioner Abro confirmed that all seven injured passengers were in stable condition. He added that arrangements were being made to transport the remaining passengers safely to their destinations. Meanwhile, railway engineers had started repair work on the damaged track to restore train operations.
This explosion marked the seventh attack on the Jaffar Express this year. The deadliest assault occurred in March when terrorists hijacked the train, killing 21 passengers. Since then, the train has been repeatedly targeted along various routes.
Railways Minister Abbasi blames India for the Jaffar Express attack
Speaking to the media, Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi blamed India for orchestrating the recurring attacks. He asserted that “terrorists targeting the Jaffar Express are proxies of India,” accusing New Delhi of retaliation for its defeat in the “Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos.” Abbasi vowed that Pakistan Railways would not bow to such threats.
“The train will continue to operate as per routine,” Abbasi declared. “We will never be afraid of such cowardly attacks.” He further assured that security along railway tracks and stations would be tightened.
Abbasi praised the courage of railway staff and passengers who continue to travel despite repeated attacks. “I salute our brave crew members and passengers who show that Pakistan is a resilient and fearless nation,” he said. He also appreciated the armed forces for their efforts to eliminate terrorist networks threatening citizens’ safety.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah strongly condemned the explosion and ordered an inquiry from the provincial police chief. He instructed the Larkana commissioner to ensure the best medical treatment for all injured passengers. Later, Sindh lawmaker Imtiaz Sheikh and DC Abro visited Shikarpur Civil Hospital to check on the condition of Muhammad Younis, Muhammad Shafique, and other injured victims.
