New Delhi: At least one person was killed and nine others were injured in a blast inside the Jaffar Express train in the Chichawatni area of Pakistan's Punjab on Thursday morning, local media Dawn reported citing railways officials.
The report added that Pakistan Railways spokesperson Babar Ali confirmed the injuries and casualties to Dawn.com over the phone. According to Dawn, he said the nature of the blast was yet to be ascertained. Ali said that the SP Railways arrived at the blast site and would soon provide details on the incident, Dawn reported.
According to Sahiwal District Police Officer (DPO) Faisal Shahzad, the injured persons have been moved to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ), Dawn mentioned in its report.
As per the report, the police official said the passenger train had left from Balochistan’s Machh and was en route to Peshawar.
"As per the statements of the eyewitnesses, the blast occurred inside the washroom area after the train left the Mian Channu station," the official told reporters, quoted Dawn.
As per Dawn’s report, Multan Deputy Superintendent Hammad Hasan said that a team from the counter-terrorism department has arrived at the site and started collecting evidence. "As soon as we get some information, we will share it with the media," he was quoted as saying by Dawn.
On the nature of the blast, Hasan said that different versions of the investigators and passengers are there. He said, according to Dawn, "But so far, the Railways has not released any official statement regarding the attack. Police investigations are also underway."
He added that officials have recorded statements of eyewitnesses and information regarding the "chain of activities is being collected".
Hasan further revealed that the train was stopped on the outskirts of Chichawatni after the driver observed that there was some problem in the coaches, reported Dawn.
(This is developing news...Details awaited)