Wagah border toll hits 65

Lahore: The death toll in the deadly bomb blast at Wagah in Pakistan rose to 65 on Monday. Children and security personnel were amongst those killed while over 200 were injured in Sunday’s suicide attack, minutes after the flag-lowering ceremony at the Indo-Pak border. 

The powerful explosion occurred in the parking area of the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, as the flag lowering-ceremony ended.

Earlier reports suggest it could be a cylinder blast. Dawn News reported that at least 25 kilos of explosives may have been used in the attack. Reports added that there was heavy security in the area which the bomber managed to breach.

Meanwhile, Beating Retreat at Wagah has been cancelled for three days on request from Pakistan.

Inspector General, Punjab Police, Mushtaq Sukhera said, the suicide attacker approached the gate as the crowd was vacating the parade area where the flag ceremony is held,Pakistani Rangers have cordoned off the blast site.

TV footage showed shops and nearby buildings destroyed at the site of the blast. Security and rescue personnel have rushed to the spot while the injured have been taken to hospital. Emergency has been declared at all hospitals in Lahore.

At least three terror groups have claimed responsibility for the attack. Al-Qaeda affiliated militant group Jandullah, which was behind a suicide bombing that killed at least 78 Christians at a church in Peshawar in September 2013, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The spokesman of the splinter group of the Tehreek-i- Taliban Pakistan (TTP)Ahmed Marwat said the attack was a reaction to Pakistani military’s operation Zarb-i-Azb and Waziristan operation against insurgents.

But another militant faction Jamat-ul-Ahrar, which broke away from the main TTP leadership in September, rubbished the claim and said they were behind the blast.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed “grief and sorrow” and condemned the blast. He has ordered authorities to provide best medical assistance to the injured and called for a report on the incident.

Wagah is the only road border crossing between Amritsar and the Pakistani city of Lahore.