KHAIRPUR, March 15: Two bomb blasts in about two and a half hours on the up and down tracks near the Khairpur railway station on Monday night damaged parts of tracks, affecting rail traffic on the route. No train was at the station or passing through the tracks at the time of the blasts.

The first blast took place on the 'down' tracks near the home signal about half a kilometre from the station at about 8pm and the second blast at 10.30pm on the 'up' tracks only 10 yards away.

An emergency was declared at the railway station and the line was closed for all down trains. Special arrangements were made for down trains, Sukkur Express, Khyber Mail, Tezgam and Night Coach to use the up track.

The railway administration called a bomb disposal team from Sukkur and Khairpur police cordoned off the station and adjoining areas.