One killed, 19 injured in Amarnath blast

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

Srinagar, July 18 (UNI) A local resident was killed and 19 others, including a yatri from Uttar Pradesh and a bus conductor from Delhi, wounded in a powerful grenade blast at Baltal base camp late last night, official sources said today.

A police spokesman said militants hurled a hand grenade near the main entrance gate of the high security camp where a large number of 'yatris' (pilgrims) were resting at 2130 hrs.

The grenade exploded a few yards outside the camp fencing, causing injuries to 20 people, the sources said. However, the police spokesman said 14 people were wounded.

The injured were immediately shifted to local medical camps.

Nine of the critically wounded were later rushed to hospitals in Srinagar for specialised treatment. One of the injured, identified as Abdul Rahim Loan, a local resident succumbed in the hospital. Loan, a class XII student, was working as an agent for a tent owner at Baltal.

Yatris and locals present in the camp ran for safety after the blast.

CRPF Commandant Parveen Kumar, incharge of Baltal base camp, told UNI over the phone late last night that the grenade was hurled outside the main frisking gate from Baltal.

He said, majority of the injured were locals and Tibetan shopkeepers, who were selling their products to pilgrims.

Mr Kumar added that the grenade exploded near the shopping complex, a distance away from the main entrance of the camp.

Later, all those present in the area were properly frisked and their identity cards checked.

The Commandant said the yatris inside the base camp are safe and the security has been tightened further.

UNI

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