SUKKUR: A low-intensity blast damaged a small portion of the rail tracks between Jacobabad and Shikarpur and resulted in the disruption of many train services in Sindh and Balochistan on Tuesday.

Several trains, including Jaffer Express, running between the two provinces, were halted for security reasons.

Ghulam Fareed Khunharo, a railway employee manning the nearby level-crossing, revealed that the blast occurred moments after the last coach of the Sukkur Express safely railed through the blast-hit tracks. It was on its way to Sukkur from Jacobabad.

The area where the incident took place falls within the limits of the Humayoon police station of Shikarpur district.

SSP Shahzaib Chachar told local reporters and higher authorities that no major damage was caused to the tracks, nor was there any casualty.

He expressed his confidence that the normal rail traffic would resume shortly after the tracks were repaired.

The police and their bomb disposal squad (BDS) rushed to the blast site and mounted a search to ensure there was no other explosive device planted anywhere in the area. “Surveillance in the area has been intensified due to security reasons and an investigation is underway,” the SSP said, adding that a hunt was also underway to trace out and arrest the culprits.

All Balochistan-bound trains coming from Punjab, including Jaffer Express, were halted at the Jacobabad station. Passengers of the Jaffer Express were offloaded and the fare they had paid was refunded to them.

Railway officials said that the suspended train services would be given a ‘clear’ signal once the security alert was withdrawn.

Meanwhile the proscribed ‘Baloch Republican Guards’ claimed responsibility for the terror attack by sending an online message to media houses.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2025