''Mysterious'' bus explosion toll in Kashmir reaches 7

Srinagar, July 30 (UNI) The toll in the ''mysterious'' bus explosion near the famed Mughal Gardens at Shalimar on the city outskirts yesterday reached seven today with one local girl succumbing to her injuries and another tourist from Gujarat dying of cardiac arrest.

Police said a Kashmiri girl, Shazia Bashir, daughter of Bashir Ahmad Khan, resident of Budshah Chowk near Lal Chowk here, who was admitted to the multi-speciality Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura, sucummbed to her injuries midnight last night.

They said another tourist, Malang Bhai, son of Rustam Bhai, resident of Rajpipla in Narbada district of Gujarat, died of a heart attack also during midnight last night while he was sitting next to his injured daughter in the hospital.

The Jammu and Kashmir government today requested a special aircraft (AN-32) from the Indian Air Force (IAF) for airlifting the dead and wounded to Gujarat.

The IAF operated two flights during the day to airlift the deceased and the wounded with two doctors from here on board.

The state government also announced a compensation of Rs one lakh each to the families of the deceased. One tourist from Gujarat whose eye got damaged in the explosion has been given Rs 75,000.

The monetary relief for other wounded was being finalised.

The other deceased have been identified as Amina Bibi, wife of Mohammad Yaseen Khan, Moosa Sheikh, son of Ismail Sheikh, Razia Bano, wife of Sedee Bhai and Rabia, daughter of Sikandar (all residents of Rajpipla in Narbada district of Gujarat).

The dead Kashmiri girl has been identified as Nusrat Jan, daughter of Mohammad Abdullah, resident of Seki Dafur in Safa Kadal-Nawa Kadal area of downtown Srinagar.

Among the 22 injured, four -- Sama, daughter of Maqsood Ahmad Sheikh, Suhana, daughter of Malang Bhai, Yaseen Khan, son of Hayat Khan and Bashir Khan, son of Hadat Khan (all residents of Rajpipla in Narbada district of Gujarat) were discharged after first aid.

Those admitted in SKIMS have been identified as Tabassum, wife of Imtiyaz Ahmad, Imtiyaz Mustafa, son of Mohammad Mustafa, Mubeena, daughter of Anwar Khan, Bismillah Bano, wife of Abdul Rehman, Banu Bi, wife of Iqbal Bhat, Iqbal Bhat, son of Mohammad Bhai, Rehmat Khan son of Lal Khan Sheikh, Subeena and Mubeena Khatoon (all residents of Rajpipla in Narbada district Narbada in Gujarat).

Those admitted in SMHS Hospital have been identifed as Mohammad Amin, son of Abdul Sattar, Naseema, wife of Shamus-ud-Din, Mohsin, son of Nazir Ahmad, Isha, daughter of Abdul Majid, Naseema, wife of Dilawar, Tahira, wife of Abdullah, and Nazir Khan, son of Habib Khan (all residents of Rajpipla in Narbada district in Gujarat).

UNI