Death toll from Bajaur bombing soars to eight

Blast occurred near police van transporting officers for security during anti-polio vaccination campaign

BAJAUR:

Yet another victim of the Bajaur blast has succumbed to injuries, raising the death toll to eight. Constable Amirzada, who sustained injuries in the attack, fought for his life for several days at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar before passing away, as reported by the police.

Initially, the deadly attack in the volatile Mamond area of Bajaur claimed five lives when a police vehicle was targeted by a roadside improvised explosive device (IED). The tragic incident occurred during a field deployment of policemen for an anti-polio vaccination drive, resulting in 24 injuries.

The death toll from the Bajaur bomb blast on Tuesday has now climbed to seven, with two more police personnel succumbing to their injuries. Notably, five policemen were martyred, and 24 others were wounded in Monday’s blast.

Read Five cops on polio duty martyred in Bajaur blast

According to the police, the blast occurred near a police van transporting officers for security during the anti-polio vaccination campaign. On Tuesday, a spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar confirmed that two more injured police officers had lost their lives.

The final rites for the deceased constable were conducted with full military honors at Bajaur police lines, followed by the coffin being sent for burial in the ancestral graveyard. The continuous loss of lives highlights the gravity of the situation, underscoring the need for enhanced security measures during critical public health initiatives.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2024.