Bomb kills at least 24 as passenger train hit near Quetta tracks

A powerful bomb exploded near a railway track in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta on Sunday as a passenger train passed through, killing at least two dozen people and injuring dozens more, officials said. The blast, which occurred near the Chaman Phatak area, caused two train cars to overturn and catch fire, sending thick black smoke into the air. Casualty figures varied, with some officials reporting at least 24 dead and more than 50 wounded, while other initial accounts gave lower numbers. Doctors at local hospitals said they had received more than 30 injured people, several in critical condition.

The explosion severely damaged nearby buildings and smashed vehicles parked along the road, according to witnesses and images from the scene. Windows and glass panels were shattered by the force of the blast. Security forces and emergency responders quickly cordoned off the area, and hospitals in Quetta declared emergencies, summoning additional medical staff. Railway authorities halted the Jaffar Express, which was scheduled to depart for Peshawar, as a precaution.

A senior official told AFP that the train was carrying army personnel and their family members traveling from...