40 killed, 100 injured as suicide blast hits shrine in SW Pakistan
Updated: 2016-11-13 13:49
(Xinhua)
|
|||||||||
ISLAMABAD - At least 40 people were killed and over 100 others injured after a suicide blast hit a shrine in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan district on Saturday night, local media and officials said.
Local Urdu TV channel Abb Takk reported that 40 people including women and kids were killed, adding that the blast targeted devotees who played Dhamal, a kind of mystic dance, at Shah Noorani Shrine located at a hilltop in Hub town of the province's Kalat region.
However, the officials put the death toll figure at 30.
Hashim Galzai, the Commissioner of Kalat said that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who blew himself up at the place where the devotees were dancing.
He said that there were over 500 people, coming from different parts of the country, inside the shrine when the blast happened.
Rescue work by Army, government and non-profit organizations is underway, and altogether 87 ambulances carrying doctors and paramedics have been dispatched to the blast site, as there is no major hospital in the remote area where the shrine is located.
Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, the spokesperson of the Balochistan government, said that they have dispatched 50 ambulances to the shrine.
The Inter-Services Public Relations, Pakistani Army's media wing, said that 25 ambulances with doctors and paramedics have left for the blast site and an emergency has been imposed in military hospitals in Kalat region and Karachi.
Hamkim Lasi, head of a non-profit organization Edhi Foundation in the area, said that they have dispatched 12 ambulances to the blast site.
He said that the blast site is hard to access as darkness and tough mountainous terrain is a hindrance to the rescue teams, and the nearest major hospital is in downtown Hub, which is located some 120 km from the blast site.
Superintendent Police Muhammad Jafar said that police and paramilitary troops reached the blast site and cordoned it off.
No group has claimed the attack yet.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the blast and vowed to eradicate militancy from the country.
Local Urdu TV channel Abb Takk reported that 40 people including women and kids were killed, adding that the blast targeted devotees who played Dhamal, a kind of mystic dance, at Shah Noorani Shrine located at a hilltop in Hub town of the province's Kalat region.
However, the officials put the death toll figure at 30.
Hashim Galzai, the Commissioner of Kalat said that the attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who blew himself up at the place where the devotees were dancing.
He said that there were over 500 people, coming from different parts of the country, inside the shrine when the blast happened.
Rescue work by Army, government and non-profit organizations is underway, and altogether 87 ambulances carrying doctors and paramedics have been dispatched to the blast site, as there is no major hospital in the remote area where the shrine is located.
Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar, the spokesperson of the Balochistan government, said that they have dispatched 50 ambulances to the shrine.
The Inter-Services Public Relations, Pakistani Army's media wing, said that 25 ambulances with doctors and paramedics have left for the blast site and an emergency has been imposed in military hospitals in Kalat region and Karachi.
Hamkim Lasi, head of a non-profit organization Edhi Foundation in the area, said that they have dispatched 12 ambulances to the blast site.
He said that the blast site is hard to access as darkness and tough mountainous terrain is a hindrance to the rescue teams, and the nearest major hospital is in downtown Hub, which is located some 120 km from the blast site.
Superintendent Police Muhammad Jafar said that police and paramilitary troops reached the blast site and cordoned it off.
No group has claimed the attack yet.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the blast and vowed to eradicate militancy from the country.
- Online shopping frenzy sparks trash concern
- Is it a thing? 10 odd jobs where you can make good money
- Message on a bottle: Mineral water company launches drive to find missing children
- Snow leopards caught on camera
- A foreigner's guide to Singles Day shopping spree
- China jails 49 for catastrophic Tianjin warehouse blasts
- Americans want to change presidential election system
- UK business calls for exclusive visa system for post-Brexit London
- Australia poised to sign refugee deal with United States: media
- Philippines' Duterte says he is against 2014 defense pact with US
- S.Africa wants to work with US in promoting peace: Zuma
- Trump's victory on global pages
- Alibaba breaks sales record on Singles Day
- Ten photos from around China: Nov 4-10
- Snow storm hits Xinjiang
- Clinton concedes election, urges open mind on Trump
- Places to enjoy golden gingko tree leaves
- Taobao village gets ready for shopping spree on 11/11
- Overhead bridge rotated in East China's Shandong
- The 75th anniversary of Red Square parade celebrated
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
No environmental shortcuts
US election rhetoric unlikely to foreshadow future US-China relations
'Zero Hunger Run' held in Rome
Trump outlines anti-terror plan, proposing extreme vetting for immigrants
Phelps puts spotlight on cupping
US launches airstrikes against IS targets in Libya's Sirte
Ministry slams US-Korean THAAD deployment
Two police officers shot at protest in Dallas
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |