QUETTA: An attempt to blow up the Rawalpindi-bound Jaffar Express was foiled by security personnel who defused a 40kg bomb planted at the railway track in Bolan district on Wednesday.

The bomb, planted at the track linking Balochistan with the rest of the country near Dozan, 100km east of Quetta, would have caused massive disaster in case of explosion.

The security forces had spotted a suspected object at the track during patrolling along the railway line and immediately informed the railway authorities after cordoning off the area.

All trains, including Jaffar Express, Bolan Mail and Quetta Express which had to leave Quetta for their destinations, were stopped in Quetta.

The bomb disposal squad was summoned to the site which defused the bomb.

“It was a 40kg bomb planted...to hit the passenger train,” a bomb disposal squad official told Dawn, adding that saboteurs had planned to blow up the train by remote control.

“The target was Jaffar Express running between Quetta and Rawalpindi,” a senior Levies official said, adding that security forces foiled the attempt by taking timely action.

Later, train service between Quetta and the rest of the country was restored.

Security forces launched a search operation in the area to capture elements involved in planting bombs at railway tracks.

Published in Dawn, June 5th, 2014