Summary The police cordoned off the area soon after the blast.
RAWALPINDI (Dunya News) - At least 24 people have been killed while 98 others injured in an explosion at fruit market near Pir Wadhai area of Rawalpindi.
The PIMS spokesperson Dr Ayesha confirmed that 24 people lost their lives in blast. Meanwhile, Dr Javed told nine of the injured were in critical condition and feared that the death toll may rise.
The dead and the injured were immediately shifted to PIMS hospital.
The blast left a 1.5-metre (five-foot) diameter crater at the site which was littered with bloody body parts, an AFP reporter at the scene said.
Ambulances were rushing in and out carrying wounded people and dead bodies.
According to initial report, explosives were planted in a fruit box that went off when the market was at its full bloom and crowded. 5kg of explosives were used in the blast, one of the officials said.
The police cordoned off the area soon after the blast while an investigation is underway.
One of the witnesses said the explosion took place around 8:15AM.
Condolences started pouring in following the blast in Rawalpindi. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed grief over the killing of innocent lives while ordered authorities to provide all medical facilities to the injured people.
