- Ten killed as Baloch Republican Army blasts passenger train in Kashmore
At least 10 people, including four children of a family, were killed and several others injured when a powerful explosion on a railway track in Kashmore district of Sindh led to the derailment of four bogies of Khushal Khan Khattak Express on Sunday.
Police and rescue officials said the blast hit the Peshawar-bound passenger train near Tangwani town in Kashmore district. As many as 10 people were killed and 30 others injured in the incident. Baloch Republican Army (BRA) has claimed responsibility of the attack.
The death toll was expected to rise further because some of the injured were in a critical condition in the hospital.
Railway authorities dispatched teams to the blast site for relief and rescue operations as the rail traffic on both up and down tracks was suspended. The local population also took part in the rescue activities.
It took more than an hour for rescue officials to reach the spot.
The Railways DS said around 350 passengers were aboard the train when the blast hit the train.
Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has also sought report from Sukkur DIG and commissioner.
SSP Jacobabad Younus Chandio said 27 injured had been shifted to Thal Hospital.
The blast came two weeks after an explosion on rail tracks near Karachi which derailed eight bogies of a passenger train. A minor girl was killed in the terror incident, also claimed by BRA.
Meanwhile, Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafique announced compensation for the deceased and the injured of Kashmore train blast.
The minister, addressing a press conference in Lahore, said Rs5,00,000 million each will be given to heirs of the deceased, while Rs0.1 million each will be provided to those injured.
He said vicious elements, claiming to be freedom fighters, had no right to kill innocent people.
“They are the same people who used to target trains in Balochistan and local people,” he added.
The minister said it was a cowardly act to target a passenger bus.
“Those carrying out terrorist activities in Balochistan are now targeting passenger trains in Sindh,” he said.
The minister stressed that the security of train passengers will be ensured at all costs.
“Terrorists knew that trains were a safe target, but we have thought of some measures to protect trains from such attacks,” he said, adding the link of attackers connects with those so-called ‘freedom fighters’ in Balochistan.
He also informed that Pakistan Railways had limited resources and was facing shortfall of Rs30 billion.