Tragedy: Bannu blast toll rises to 26

Independent sources claim 15 of the 20 security officials were in critical condition and shifted to Peshawar.

MIRAMSHAH/ PARACHINAR/ BANNU/ CHARSADDA:

Three more security officials succumbed to injuries, pushing the number of fatalities in Sunday’s attack on security forces in Bannu to 26.

According to an official of the security forces in Peshawar, the death toll is now 26 while 24 others are injured.

However, independent sources from the area claimed that the death toll has risen to 27 while 35 were injured. They added that 24 bodies had been taken to their hometowns for burial.

Independent sources also claimed that 15 of the 20 security officials, who had been admitted in the Bannu Combined Military Hospital, were in critical condition and shifted to Peshawar.

Meanwhile, five Frontier Corps (FC) personnel killed in the blast were laid to rest at their native villages with full state honours.

The bodies of two cousins Babar Khan and Naeem, residents of Sher Bahadur Kallay were buried in Charsadda.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 21^st, 2014.