Death toll from Swat explosions rises to 16

SWAT, April 25 (SABAH): The death toll from Monday’s twin blasts at the Kabal police station in Swat rose to 16 on Tuesday as the cause of the explosions was yet to be ascertained.

According to media reports, two explosions rocked the police station a day earlier, which occurred on the premises of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) office.

A report issued by the Office of Deputy Commissioner Swat on Tuesday, said two consecutive explosions took place inside the CTD police station inside Kabal Police Lines at 8:29pm on Monday night.

The explosions, which shattered the roof of the police station, the CTD office, and a mosque located inside the station, were also followed by a fire. According to the KP police, out of the fatalities, nine were police officers and six were civilians, while the identification of others was still being processed.

The deceased were identified as sub-inspector (SI) Abdullah Khan, SI Ashraf Ali, assistant sub-inspector (ASI) CTD Sher Alam; constables Taj Muhammad, Asmat Ali, Khalilur Rahman, Bakht Rokhan, Fazal Raziq; Nahid and 2-year-old Azan. The report added that 63 people were injured in the explosions out of which eight were in critical condition.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the blast. In a statement, he expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in the incident. He prayed higher status for martyrs in heaven and condoled with the bereaved families.

The Prime Minister also prayed for the early recovery of the injured and directed to provide them with all possible medical assistance.  He sought a report of the incident from the relevant authorities.

The Prime Minister said the entire nation salutes martyrs’ sacrifices. Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has also strongly condemned the blast at CTD police station. The government has imposed an emergency in all the major hospitals of Swat.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Secretary Mahmood Aslam Wazir said hospitals across Swat had been put on high alert. An emergency had also been declared at Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital to cope with emergencies.

He said all the staff was directed to report to their duty stations while Swat’s regional blood centre had been mobilised to provide blood immediately to the hospitals.