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25 injured in Srinagar explosion

Shujaat Bukhari

— PHOTO: NISSAR AHMAD

TERROR STRIKES AGAIN: The ripped flyover at Jehangir Chowk in Srinagar after the IED blast on Wednesday.

SRINAGAR: Breaking a five-month lull in Srinagar, militants on Wednesday made an abortive bid to blow up the only flyover in the city by exploding an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

It caused injuries to 25 people, mostly civilians, of whom three are in critical condition.

The blast took place around 5.15 p.m.

According to the police, the IED was kept beneath an observation post on the flyover being manned by the CRPF. Witnesses said the IED exploded with a big bang and shook the entire area.

In the impact of the blast, the flyover was damaged and the rubble fell on the road hitting many vehicles and injuring nearly 25 people. No CRPF jawan was injured. Panic gripped the entire area and people ran helter-skelter. A number of vehicles were badly damaged.

There was chaos at the Sri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital as a large number of people thronged the place to know about the injured.

The Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Shiv Murari Sahai said: “We are investigating how it took place though the city has remained peaceful for several months now.” He said no one was killed in the blast.

Hizbul Mujahideen has owned responsibility for the attack and claimed that heavy casualties were inflicted on the CRPF. Hizb spokesman Khalilur Rehman, however, regretted the injuries to the civilians.

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