At least eight individuals lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when a roadside bomb detonated in the Barghantu area of Bannu on Saturday morning. The explosive device was planted along the roadside and exploded as a passenger van traveling from Hathikhel village to Bannu passed the spot.
In addition to the van, a second vehicle was also affected by the blast. District Police Officer Yaser Afridi confirmed that five passengers in the van and two occupants of the second vehicle were among those killed. The injured were promptly transported to Khalifa Gul Nawaz Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.
Notably, a local administration vehicle carrying Abidullah, a tehsildar from the Sub-Division Wazir area, was also damaged in the explosion; however, he escaped without injury. Rescue efforts were initially hampered by the difficult terrain and remote access routes, complicating the transfer of the wounded to healthcare facilities.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that a second explosion occurred shortly after the first blast at the same location. Security forces and police quickly secured the area, collecting evidence and launching a search operation in the surrounding regions.
Hospital officials revealed that several of the injured remain in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll may increase further as rescue and medical efforts continue.
