Markets in Parachinar shut, mourns blast victims

Markets in Parachinar shut, mourns blast victims

Parachinar (Staff Report): Markets in Parachinar remained closed today (Sunday) as the city mourned the death of 25 people in a powerful blast in vegetable market early Saturday morning.

Security has been tightened around the city following the tragedy. Checkpoints and blockades have been set up in various parts of the city and vehicles are only being let through after thorough checking.

The dead bodies of 21 of the victims were shifted to their hometowns for burial after a combined funeral prayer was held on Saturday at Parachinar’s main Imambargah.

According to details, 33 of the injured remain under treatment at Agency Headquarters Hospital, Parachinar. At least 20 of the injured are being treated in Peshawar.

Early Saturday, 25 people were killed and over 65 injured when a powerful explosion ripped through a crowded marketplace in the northwestern city of Parachinar in Kurram tribal agency.

The explosion occurred at around 8:50AM at the city's Eidgah market, where a large number of people were shopping for fruits and vegetables.

The military's media wing, ISPR, said that the blast was carried out through an improvised explosive device (IED).