PESHAWAR: At least 15 people were killed and 30 others injured when a bomb exploded on a bus carrying government officials in Peshawar on Wednesday.
The attack took place on Peshawar’s Sunehri Masjid road after the bus picked up government employees from Shergarh in Mardan and was transporting them to work in the city.
“The blast was caused by a timed-improvised explosive device (IED) planted in a tool box inside the bus,” SP Cantonment Kashif Zulfiqar said. ”There were 40-50 people on the bus.”
“The bus carrying PDA employees was targeted at at 7:55am,” added DC Riaz Mehsud.
Windows of nearby buildings broke due to the impact of the explosion.
Residents of the area shifted the injured in their cars to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), closing the vicinity for traffic.
Sources said at least 15 of the total number of injured people at the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar were air force employees.
BDS officials said 10kg of explosives were planted in the bus, while further investigation was underway.
“Emergency has been declared and all doctors have been called in to handle trauma,” hospital spokesperson Jamil Shah said.
Many of the wounded were in critical condition and the death toll could rise, he added.