Pakistan: Blast in Peshawar bus kills 15 govt employees, over 25 injured

At least 15 people were killed and 25 others were injured on Wednesday when a bomb exploded on a bus carrying government officials in the northwest Pakistani frontier city of Peshawar.

According to reports, the blast that took place near Peshawar's Sunehri Masjid. Two women and a child were among the dead. 

"A Civil Secretariat was carrying government employees from Mardan to the provincial capital. There were 40-50 people on the bus," said reports.

"Fifteen people were killed and 25 others were severely injured. The blast was caused by explosive material planted inside the bus," report said, quoting Superintendent of Police Cantonment Muhammad Kashif.

The injured were shifted to Lady reading hospital. The condition of a majority of those injured was stated to be critical. Eight of the injured were admitted in ICU.

The security forces and police cardoned off the entire area and started a search operation. Fear and panic spread among residents in the wake of the explosion.

"The top part of the bus has blown off and is being cut to pull out the injured," an eye witness was quoted as saying by The Express Tribune.

Earlier also, a civil secretariat buses were targeted in Peshawar. Similar instances in the year 2013 and 2012 have killed 38 people.