ECO freight train attacked

Unidentified people planted explosive material on the track, which exploded when a freight train was passing by.

CHAGHI:

Four sections of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) freight train were damaged and a big portion of the track was affected in a powerful explosion near Dalbandin in Chagai district on Monday.

The ECO freight train was on its way from Quetta to Turki via Iran when it was attacked through a bomb planted along with tracks. According to the police, unidentified persons planted an explosive device along the railway track near Dadder Landi area, some five kilometres from Dalbandin railway station, and detonated it when the Islamabad to Istanbul bound ECO freight train passed through the area.

The blast damaged four sections of the train and blew up a four-foot portion of the track. No one was hurt in the blast.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Assistant Commissioner Tufail Baloch said that the blast was powerful, causing the train to go off-track.

According to the Bomb Disposal Squad, five kilogrammes worth of explosive material was used in the blast.

Baloch said that the Levies force is investigating the blast and those involved would soon be brought to justice.

“The train had departed from Islamabad to Quetta and was heading towards Istanbul via Tehran,” station master Dalbandin, Mohammad Munir, told the media.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2011.