At least seven people, including two traffic police personnel, were killed and 23 others injured in an explosion in Sarai Naurang tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Lakki Marwat on Tuesday.
Bannu Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sajjad Khan confirmed the casualties, saying that initial investigations suggested that explosive material had been planted in a motorcycle.
He added that police, rescue teams and other law enforcement agencies reached the site immediately after the incident. Bomb disposal experts also arrived, collected evidence and are now working to determine the exact nature of the blast, the DIG said.
Lakki Marwat police spokesperson Qudratullah Khan identified the killed police personnel as Adil Jan and Rahatullah. Their bodies were shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, while most of the injured were referred to hospitals in Bannu in critical condition.
According to Qudratullah, the traffic police personnel were performing routine duty to regulate traffic between Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan when the explosion took place.
Earlier, a heavy police contingent led by the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) of Naurang Circle reached the site, cordoned off the area, collected evidence and started administering first aid to the victims.
DIG Khan also visited the blast site and later the District Headquarters Hospital, where he met the injured. He told doctors to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the wounded, and expressed resolve to bring all terrorists and their facilitators to justice come what may.
Meanwhile, videos on social media showed extensive damage to shops, rickshaws and nearby properties caused by the blast.
KP Chief Minister (CM) Sohail Afridi also took notice of the explosion and sought a report from the inspector general of police (IGP).
“The martyrdom of two traffic police personnel and five civilians in the incident is deeply tragic,” he said.
The provincial chief executive said that the government shared the grief of the victims’ families, and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical facilities for the injured, pledging every possible assistance to those affected.
