Vandalism: Bomb blast on railway tracks leaves 15 injured

Khushal Khan Khatak Express was on its way to Peshawar.

SUKKUR: At least 15 people were injured when four coaches of Khushal Khan Khatak Express were derailed due to a bomb blast on the railway tracks near Dil Murad railway station on Thursday.

The spot is located about seven kilometres from Jacobabad. The train was on its way to Peshawar from Karachi when a powerful explosion occurred on the tracks. A heavy contingent of police and Rangers rushed to the scene, cordoned the area off and started the rescue operation.

At least 15 passengers, including women, were injured and were taken to Civil Hospital, Jacobabad. The injured include Salamullah, a resident of Peshawar, Shababa Bibi and Mehr Bibi from Nowshera, Meher Angez and his son, Irfan Khan, from Mardan, Mehran Khan, Abdul Jabbar and special ticket checker Hidayat Ali Shah.

Railway SHO Dil Murad Mir Muhammad Mirani told The Express Tribune that the bomb blast was so intense that it blew away a five-foot-long portion of the track. Because of this, more than a 100-foot-long portion of the track was damaged.

Mirani said that the railway officials have started repairs and it may take a couple of hours to fix. He added that another locomotive was summoned from Jacobabad and the remaining four coaches left for its destination through Jacobabad and Sukkur.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 13^th, 2015.