Residents in Pakistan’s southwestern city of Quetta are finding it difficult to prepare for the upcoming Eid Al-Adha holiday following a suicide bomb attack on a passenger train that killed more than 30 people and destroyed homes and vehicles in surrounding neighborhoods.

The attack, claimed by the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), targeted a shuttle train carrying Pakistani security personnel and their families on Sunday in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province.

Authorities stated that the bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the train, causing it to derail and damaging nearby residential areas.

This bombing marks the latest in a series of attacks in Balochistan, a mineral-rich province bordering Iran and Afghanistan where separatist militants have waged a decades-long insurgency against the Pakistani state.

The region also includes major Chinese-backed infrastructure and energy projects such as the strategic Gwadar deep-sea port.

As rescue workers cleared debris and families surveyed damaged homes ahead of Eid, residents described scenes of devastation and uncertainty.

Hishrat, a housewife whose home was destroyed in the blast, appealed to the government for assistance.

Muhammad Haseeb, a private employee, expressed concerns about the community’s ability to continue with Eid preparations.

Farooq stated that Eid is no longer a priority due to their current circumstances.

According to Pakistani officials, the blast derailed the train’s engine and several coaches, and images from the scene showed overturned bogies, burnt vehicles and debris scattered across the area.

The BLA has intensified attacks in Balochistan recently, targeting trains, security forces and infrastructure projects.

In March last year, militants hijacked the Jaffar Express train and took hundreds hostage before Pakistani forces launched an operation that ended the standoff.