At least 25 dead, dozens injured in Pakistan train station suicide blast


A suicide bombing near a railway station in Quetta, Pakistan, has claimed the lives of at least 25 people and injured another 53. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has taken responsibility for the attack, which targeted the crowded platform of passengers.

Quetta Division Commissioner Hamza Shafqat confirmed the current death toll and that the attack was a suicide attack, according to CNN. The blast, which occurred around 9 am, caused widespread chaos as people ran for safety amidst the carnage. Senior Police Superintendent Muhammad Baloch confirmed that the platform was full of passengers at the time.

“There was a lot of chaos. People were running back and forth, people were lying martyred, some without legs and arms and hands,” an eyewitness told CNN. Among the killed are passengers as well as railway employees and security personnel.

The province’s chief minister has ordered an inquiry into the attack. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement heavily condemning the attack and vowing that those responsible “will pay a very heavy price for it.” The prime minister added that security forces are determined to eliminate “the mance of terrorism,” according to NBC News.

The BLA has intensified its insurgency in recent months, seeking independence from Pakistan. The separatist militant group has often sought to attack soft targets. In August, coordinated attacks on passenger buses and security forces throughout Balochistan resulted in over 50 fatalities, mostly civilians.

The separatists have also intentionally targeted foreigners. In October, it also targeted a convoy of Chinese engineers and investors, killing two Chinese citizens. This prompted the Chinese government to request that Pakistan ensure the safety of its citizens working in the country.

This Story originally came from humanevents.com

 


Related Posts

Virginia Family’s EZ-Pass Charged $576 After Driving RV Just 45 Miles On State Toll Road

Virginia Family’s EZ-Pass Charged $576 After Driving RV Just 45 Miles On State Toll Road

It’s easy to laugh off people who constantly complain that the government is watching their every move and has hands in their wallets. Then, you stumble upon a story like Jeff Landry’s. 

When Landry set off for a camping trip with his family near Virginia’s Luray Caverns in early October, he expected to pay some tolls – especially because he had his RV.

Traveling from Falls Church with his wife and youngest child following in a minivan, they took I-66’s express lanes during peak hours, expecting to pay $30 or so each way in tolls. But to his surprise, when the EZ-Pass charges appeared days later, the bill totaled an eye-popping $569.50 for the roundtrip, according to MSN/MotorBiscuit.

At first, Jeff thought the bill was a mistake, but after checking the toll website, he realized it was accurate.

The MSN/MotorBiscuit writeup says that his three-axle RV was charged a premium due to its size, but $569.50 for a 22-mile round trip felt excessive to him. He hadn’t anticipated how much dynamic pricing could drive up tolls for larger vehicles during peak hours.

It turns out…the I-66 express lanes, managed by I-66 Express Mobility Partners, adjust toll rates based on traffic demand, charging drivers more to bypass congestion.

Larger vehicles, like Jeff’s 1997 Holiday Rambler RV, incur even higher tolls due to their size and road impact. According to a toll operator’s spokesperson, Jeff’s RV wouldn’t even qualify to use certain other toll lanes in Virginia, so the high charges are firm.

The writeup notes that drivers unfamiliar with toll pricing can easily misjudge costs, as Jeff did.

It says to avoid similar surprises, plan your trip to avoid peak hours, when toll rates are highest; traveling during off-peak times can significantly reduce toll charges. Additionally, check your vehicle’s toll classification, especially if you’re driving a larger, multi-axle vehicle, which typically incurs higher tolls. Lastly, explore alternative routes.

While non-express lanes may add some travel time, they can save large vehicle drivers hundreds of dollars. For Jeff, the express lane shaved only 20 minutes off his trip—an advantage that, in retrospect, didn’t justify the steep toll.

Or, maybe just stay home next time…

Tyler Durden
Wed, 11/13/2024 – 23:00

Summary for Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen (AT4/AL192024)

…LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODING EXPECTED IN HONDURAS LATER THIS WEEK AND OVER THE WEEKEND…
As of 10:00 PM EST Wed Nov 13
the center of Nineteen was located near 16.1, -80.2
with movement W at 9 mph.
The minimum central pressure was 1005 mb
with maximum sustained winds of about 30 mph.

You Missed

Virginia Family’s EZ-Pass Charged $576 After Driving RV Just 45 Miles On State Toll Road

Virginia Family’s EZ-Pass Charged $576 After Driving RV Just 45 Miles On State Toll Road

Summary for Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen (AT4/AL192024)

  • By NHC
  • November 13, 2024
  • 2 views

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen Forecast Advisory Number 2

  • By NHC
  • November 13, 2024
  • 1 views

Why Trump is Pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement (again)

Why Trump is Pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement (again)

Potential Tropical Cyclone Nineteen Public Advisory

  • By NHC
  • November 13, 2024
  • 4 views

Schoolhouse Limbo: How Low Will Educators Go To ‘Better’ Grades?

Schoolhouse Limbo: How Low Will Educators Go To ‘Better’ Grades?