Islamabad, July 13: A huge blast ripped through Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province Monday, killing at least nine people, police said.
The explosion took place in a small village on the outskirt of the Mian Channu town, located around 250 kilometers from the provincial capital, Lahore.
“According to information we have received from the hospital, nine people have been killed and many more injured,” senior police officer Kamran Khan said. “However, the exact casualty count is yet to be confirmed.”
At least 50 wounded people were shifted to the hospital, medical superintendent Naeem Sadiq told the Geo news television channel. Several of them were in serious condition.
Khan said the blast destroyed about two dozen mud houses, entrapping scores of people.
It was not clear what caused the explosion, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility by any group.
Punjab, the country’s richest and most-populous province, has been recently hit by a string of attacks attributed to militant groups which have developed links with the Taliban fighters in the north-western region near the Afghan border.
The Taliban have also warned the government of terrorist strikes across the country in revenge for ongoing counterinsurgency operations.
——Agencies