One dies, 7 injured as blast rocks Lahore-bound train in Chichawatni
Seven passengers also injured in the explosion: Police, railway sources say blast a terrorism act: Explosive material was placed in washroom of bogie No 4: Punjab CM Naqvi takes notice of incident, seeks report
Stay tuned with 24 News HD Android App
An elderly woman was killed and seven others sustained injuries when a powerful blast rocked Lahore-bound Jaffar Express at Chichawatni on Thursday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The explosion occurred in the economy coach of the passenger train, damaging it severely.
After getting information, rescue and relief teams of Pakistan Railways rushed to the incident site.
The train was coming to Lahore from Quetta.
Railway sources said the incident was an outcome of terrorism.
Railways administration separated the damaged coach from the train. The train set off for Lahore.
The injured and killed woman were taken out after breaking the window panes of coach No 4.
Regional Police Officer Sahiwal, the DPO and district officers reached the blast site. The area was cordoned off soon after the blast.
The bomb disposal squad reached the site to ascertain facts about explosion.
Police said the other coaches of the train were cleared after a search operation.
Hospital sources said the injured included a woman, two men and a seven-year-old girl. An elderly woman, aged 62, a resident of Sadiqabad was killed in the explosion, Rescue 1122 said. They said three of the injured were discharged after first aid.
Police said blast occurred due to some explosive material placed in the coach. They said the explosive material was placed in the washroom of the bogie No 4 of the train which is why the life loss was low in number.
The DPO said that bomb disposal squad, CTD and other agencies were investigating the incident. He said it was yet to be ascertained that whether it was a bomb blast or a cylinder explosion.
However, DPO Faisal Shahzad said it was too early to attribute the blast in Jaffar Express to a terrorist act.
Punjab CM Naqvi takes notice of incident
Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi took notice of the explosion on a train near Chichawatni and sought a report from inspector general of police.
The chief minister also ordered a thorough probe into the incident and sought a report.
Mohsin Naqvi directed Sahiwal Commissioner, deputy commissioner and RPO to immediately visit the site.
The chief minister also ordered best possible treatment of the injured.
Reporters Saeed Ahmad Saeed, Fakhar Zaman and Ali Ramay