At least 25 individuals have lost their lives following a bomb explosion at a railway station in Balochistan province, Pakistan, according to officials.
A significant explosion occurred at Quetta station in southwestern Pakistan, injuring dozens as a famous morning train was preparing to depart for Peshawar.
The Balochistan Liberation Army has claimed responsibility for a bombing that police are classifying as a suicide attack.
A recent increase in lethal assaults has been observed in the province, fueled by calls for independence and the struggle for control over local resources.
The city’s commissioner reported that the blast resulted in the deaths of at least 25 individuals, including the suicide bomber, while approximately 50 others sustained injuries.
According to senior police official Muhammad Baloch, the explosion is believed to have been triggered by a suicide bomber who was carrying between 6 to 8 kilograms of explosives. He informed the BBC that the casualties included both civilians and military personnel.
Footage circulating on social media captures the moment of the explosion on Saturday morning, revealing dozens of individuals on the platform.
Footage has emerged depicting the aftermath, revealing several injured individuals and debris scattered throughout the station.
Abdul Jabbar was among the injured and transported to the Civil Hospital. He reported entering the station after purchasing a ticket from the booking office when the explosion occurred.
“I cannot adequately convey the terror I experienced today; it felt as though a day of reckoning had arrived,” he stated.
Muhammad Sohail arrived shortly after the explosion, aiming to catch his train to Multan.
“The station was left in ruins, with individuals sprawled on the ground, crying out for assistance,” he reported.
The Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist militant organization, has taken responsibility for the recent attack.
A statement shared on social media revealed that the group aimed at a Pakistan military unit that was returning from Quetta after finishing a training course.
The chief minister of Balochistan condemned the act as deplorable, labeling the perpetrators as “worse than animals.” The authorities, he stated, would actively pursue them and ensure they are brought to their logical conclusion.
Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, the speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, denounced the recent blast, labeling the perpetrators as “enemies of humanity.”
Balochistan, the largest province of Pakistan, is endowed with abundant natural resources yet remains the least developed region in the country.
The region is characterized by a tense border with Iran and the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan while also featuring an extensive coastline along the Arabian Sea.
