Three killed, 26 injured in blast in Lahore's Paan Mandi

LAHORE (92 News) – Three people, including a nine-year-old boy, were killed and 26 injured in a blast in Lahore's Paan Mandi on Thursday.

The Rescue 1122 staff shifted the injured to Mayo Hospital. Glasses of the nearby buildings broke due to the blast. A heavy contingent of police reached the spot and started investigations.

The Mayo Hospital medical superintendent said that the condition of the two injured is stated to be critical. Eyewitnesses said that everything was in routine when the blast occurred suddenly which resulted into a fire.

Ramazan, one of the deceased, was a 'Pathoras' vendor. Nine-year-old Ansar was a resident of Karachi.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has taken notice of the incident and sought a report from the IGP Punjab Rao Sardar. He also ordered to declared emergency in hospital.

The chief minister ordered the best medical treatment to the injured.

DIG Operations Abid Khan said that the blast was carried out through a planted device. "The explosive material had been planted in a motorcycle. Several motorcycles and shops were damaged in the blast," he added. He said that the CTD officials were investigating the matter.

The Lahore commissioner said that the blast occurred at 1:40pm. Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid said that operation was conducted on three injured patients.After the blast, the area was sealed. The Bomb Disposal Squad and the forensic teams collected evidence from the site.

On the other hand, the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) has registered a case of the blast. The case has been registered on the complaint of CTD SHO Abid Baig under sections 302, 324, 120 3/4, 109B of the Explosive Act and section 7 of the ATA. Three unknown terrorists have been mentioned in the FIR.