At least 24 people were killed on Sunday in a massive blast targeting a train carrying military personnel in Pakistan's turbulent southwestern province of Balochistan, a senior official announced.

Army servicemen were among the victims in the attack, which occurred in the provincial capital of Quetta and left more than 50 people injured.

Images from the scene showed a mangled train carriage lying on its side as people clambered over the wreckage to find survivors.

People could be seen carrying blood-soaked victims on stretchers away from a derailed car, while armed security forces stood guard.

The official told AFP that the train, which was carrying army personnel and their family members, was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar in Pakistan's northwest.

The train was passing a signal at Chaman Pattak in Quetta "when an explosive-laden car hit one of the carriages that resulted in a big blast", the official said. The force of the explosion blew out nearby windows and destroyed surrounding vehicles.

Another official told AFP that the army personnel were traveling to celebrate the Eid holiday, which is due to start on Tuesday.

Balochistan is Pakistan's poorest province and largest by landmass.

It lags behind the rest of the country in almost every index, including education, employment, and economic development.

Baloch separatists accuse Pakistan's government of exploiting the province's natural gas and abundant mineral resources without benefiting the local population.

Source: AFP