Death Toll From Peshawar Blast Rises to 88, Nearly 100 Injured

News Desk

Peshawar: As rescuers pulled about 17 more bodies from the rubble in the ongoing rescue operation that is entering its final stage, the death toll from yesterday’s bloodiest suicide attack in the Police Lines mosque rose to 88, according to police.

Yesterday, as 300 to 400 worshippers had gathered to offer prayers in the Malik Saad Police Lines mosque, a suicide bomber reportedly detonated his device during Zuhar prayers.

Emergency service Rescue 1122 on Tuesday completed search and rescue efforts in the collapsed mosque of Police Lines blast. During the search effort, crews transferred 146 individuals to the hospital, including 94 injured and 54 martyrs, stated Rescue 1122 spokesman Bilal Faizi.

He said that 37 operational vehicles and 168 personnel of Rescue 1122 took part in the operation, and the teams transferred the bodies of the martyrs to Peshawar, Nowshera, Khyber, Swabi, Bannu, and DI Khan.

Over a hundred individuals are hurt and receiving medical treatment as authorities used heavy machinery to clear the mosque’s collapsed building’s debris in order to finish the rescue effort, according to police and rescuers.

Following the declaration of a day of official mourning, the national flag was flown at half-staff in the province to show support for the explosion victims and their families.

The rescuers told that their fresh squad had come early in the morning to take the place of those who had worked through the night in the bitter cold.

Moreover, at least ten police officials hailing from Charsadda district were among those martyred. According to information received from Lady Reading Hospital, 10 brave sons of Charsdda have so far been identified as martyred of the dreadful blast. These police martyrs from Charsadda were identified as Inspector Dauran Shah, Assistant Sub Inspector Rizwan Ullah, Senior Clerk Wadood Shah, Hawaldars Ashfaq, Noorul Haq, Amjad, and constables Shahab Liaquat, Naseem Shah, Khalid Jan and Gul Sharaf.

Ten coffins of the sons of the soil were transported to various localities on Tuesday for final rites and burial, creating a mournful atmosphere throughout the Charsadda district.