QUETTA, June 27: At least four people, including a police constable, were killed and more than 15 injured when a bomb blast rocked the Sibi railway station on Wednesday night.

According to police, the explosion took place soon after the Quetta-bound Jaffar Express had arrived at the station. The passenger train from Rawalpindi was several hours late. The train was parked at platform 2, where the bomb exploded.

“Passengers were buying tea and soft drinks when the bomb went off,” Sibi Range DIG Qazi Hussain Ahmed told Dawn, adding that a police constable, two passengers and a child had been killed.

The bomb was left near a stall on the platform and detonated. The injured were taken to the Sibi District Hospital where the condition of at least three of them was critical. Dr Abdul Jabbar Achakzai said they had been sent to the Combined Military Hospital.

“About 20kg of explosives was used in the blast,” the DIG said. Railway authorities said the train was allowed to continue its journey after a search and security clearance.—Saleem Shahid