Bomb explodes under culvert, one dead

Explosive device went off the moment a passenger vehicle passed over the culvert.

GILGIT:

At least one passenger was killed and three others injured on Sunday when their van hit an explosive device hidden under a culvert near Gilgit, officials said.

“The investigation carried out so far has revealed that an explosive device went off the moment the passenger vehicle passed over the culvert,” Usman Ahmad, the assistant commissioner of Gilgit told The Express Tribune. “It could be a remote-control bomb but we haven’t finished the investigation yet.”

The incident occurred at about 2.40pm at Minwar, about 20 kilometres from Gilgit. The van was heading towards the Haramosh Valley.

According to the preliminary information from the investigation, the engine of the van was thought to have exploded due to a technical fault. It was also believed that the explosion was caused by a grenade tossed into the van. However, once the investigation team reached the spot and the area was cordoned off, the actual nature of the blast was uncovered.

According to eyewitness accounts, one of the passengers had sustained serious injuries and was shifted to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) by Minwar locals.

“We helped shift the injured passengers to the hospital,” said Tufail Ahmed, a resident of Gilgit.

However, the passenger later succumbed to his injuries.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 6^th, 2012.