An explosion on the railway tracks near Shikarpur on Monday caused the derailment of three coaches of the Jaffar Express, injuring at least one passenger. The blast occurred near Sultanpur, disrupting train services and leaving passengers stranded. Authorities have launched a probe into the incident, with Sindh’s Chief Minister Murad Shah ordering immediate assistance and a thorough investigation.
The Jaffar Express, traveling from Peshawar to Quetta, was significantly affected by an explosion on the tracks near Sultanpur, close to Shikarpur. The blast caused the derailment of multiple coaches, leading to immediate suspension of railway operations on the route. Divisional Superintendent Railways Sukkur, Jamshaid Alam, confirmed that emergency response teams were dispatched to the site, with repair work expected to take up to five more hours before train services could resume.
In the aftermath of the explosion, passengers were left stranded, facing considerable hardships. To address the situation, Sindh government authorities have swiftly intervened, with Chief Minister Murad Shah taking immediate notice of the incident. He ordered that injured passengers be provided with medical aid without delay and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation to identify the culprits responsible for the attack.
CM Murad Shah condemned the explosion as an act of aggression against the state, vowing to ensure that those responsible face justice. The incident is part of a disturbing trend of attacks targeting train services in the region. Just last month, five bogies of the Jaffar Express derailed after a blast near Jacobabad, although there were no casualties in that instance.
The Jaffar Express has previously been a target of militant groups. In March, the outlawed Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) attacked the train, leading to a standoff with security forces in the Bolan district. During that incident, 26 passengers were martyred, and four security personnel lost their lives in the operation that eventually freed the hostages and neutralized 33 attackers.
As authorities continue to investigate Monday’s explosion, the growing frequency of such incidents raises concerns about the security of vital transportation routes in Pakistan.
