Six tourists among 12 injured in north Kashmir blast

Srinagar, Nov 28 (UNI) Six tourists, including two of them from Kerala, were among twelve people injured in a grenade attack on a tourist vehicle at Tangmarg in north Kashmir district of Baramulla this afternoon, official sources said.

They sources said unidentified militants hurled a hand grenade towards a vehicle near Traffic Control Post (TCP) at Tangmarg on Srinagar-Gulmarg road this afternoon.

The hand grenade exploded near the vehicle causing injuries to 12 people, including six tourists. Two of the injured tourists have been identified as Dharam Raj and Krishan Kumar, both residents of Kerala. Their condition was stable, official spokesman said adding the condition of the driver was critical.

The injured have been admitted to different hospitals, they said.

This was the third attack on the tourists in the Tangmarg- Gulmarg area since January this year. Six of the injured have been discharged after being provided first aid in the Tangmarg hospital, spokesman said.

The attack was being seen as yet another attempt to derail the winter tourist season in the Kashmir valley which was picking up after recent snowfall in the world famous ski resort of Gulmarg and other upper reaches.

A record number of tourists visited the Kashmir valley, particualary Gulmarg during last winter.

UNI BAS SAM RN1845