Over 150 passengers rescued as Pakistani forces battle militants hijacking Jaffar Express
Baloch Liberation Army claims responsibility; 27 militants killed in ongoing operation
Islamabad: Pakistani security forces have rescued at least 155 passengers and killed 27 militants following the hijacking of the Jaffar Express in Balochistan. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist militant group, has claimed responsibility for the attack and continues to hold several hostages.
The train, carrying 425 passengers, was en route from Quetta to Peshawar when militants ambushed it near the Mashkaf tunnel on Tuesday. The attackers blew up the railway track, forcing the train to a halt before seizing control of multiple compartments.
Security operations continued into Wednesday, with additional forces and helicopters deployed. A senior police official, Rana Dilawar, confirmed that the train remains stationary as armed militants hold passengers hostage. The BLA has claimed it is holding 214 hostages and has killed 30 security personnel, though Pakistani authorities have yet to confirm these figures.
The militant group has demanded the release of political prisoners and missing persons, threatening to execute hostages, including Army personnel, if their demands are not met within 48 hours.
In response, authorities have imposed emergency measures at hospitals in Sibi and Quetta, where injured passengers are being treated. Emergency desks have also been set up at railway stations in Peshawar and Quetta for relatives seeking information.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari have condemned the attack, vowing strict action against those responsible. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that "those who fire on innocent passengers do not deserve any concessions."
Balochistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks over the past year. In November 2024, a suicide blast at Quetta Railway Station claimed 26 lives and injured 62 people.
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
