25 killed, dozens injured in twin blasts during Chehlum procession

KARACHI, Feb 05 : At least 25 people were killed and dozens others sustained injuries in twin blasts here on Friday.

In first incident, two suicide bombers riding motorcycle target a mini bus at Shahrah-e-Faisal near Nursery Stop in Cantonment area of the city, which was carrying about 100 people including women and children who were on their way to attend the Chelum of Hazarat Imam Hussain.

As the motorcycle struck the mini bus, a huge explosion occurred resulting in massive destruction with 12 causalities and left about 50 people injured.

According to eyewitnesses, a motorcyclist hit the ill-fated vehicle to cause the mishap. The bus was completely damaged in the blast.

The police and Rangers reached the scene soon after the incident and cordoned off the entire area. The rescue workers, locals in assistance with police shifted the injured to Jinnah Hospital where according to hospital sources several among the injured were stated to be in critical condition.

Dr Semi Jamali, incharge emergency ward of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center, told the newsmen that at least 11 dead bodies and near 40 wounded have so far been brought to the medical faculity.

Many women and children are also among those wounded in the attack, she confirmed.

CCPO Karachi Waseem Ahmed told the newsmen that a bus of route 52-A was brining mourners from Jaffar Taeyyar Society of Malir area to main Muharram procession presently being underway at M.A. Jinnah road.

The explosion was so powerful that it was heard many kilometers away from the site; clouds of smoke engulfed the area.

When the ill-fated bus reached Shahrah-e-Quaideen from Nursery flyover a motorcycle, apparently-laden with explosives, rammed into the bus with a loud bang. However, he was cautious to declare the blast as a suicidal attack, saying it would be premature to declare the nature of the blast.

CCPO also suggested that the bomb might be operated by a remote control device, saying that the investigations have been launched into incident.

The second blast occurred at the Emergency Gate in Jinnah Hospital when the dead bodies and the injured of the first bombing were being brought here through ambulances.

the blast claimed live of 10 people whereas 50 others were wounded.

The blast took place at a time when the dead and the injured of Shahra-e-Faisal blast were being shifted to the hospital’s Emergency Ward. The blast left more than 50 people injured.

A large number of relatives of the first blast victims were present at the time of second blast.

The panic and fear gripped the hospital after the blast, in which paramedical staff and media persons were also affected.

The injured were now being rushed to Civil Hospital and city’s other private hospitals.