12 injured in a crude bomb explosion near temple in Poonch

Twelve people, including a few Buddha Amarnath yatra pilgrims, were injured when a crude bomb exploded in the main market of Poonch, 230 km from Jammu, on Saturday.

Twelve people, including a few Buddha Amarnath yatra pilgrims, were injured when a crude bomb exploded in the main market of Poonch, 230 km from Jammu, on Saturday.

Twelve people, including a few Buddha Amarnath yatra pilgrims, were injured when a crude bomb exploded in the main market of Poonch.(Representative Photo)

Deputy inspector general Rajouri-Poonch range Johny Williams said the blast took place around 8pm.

“It was a light intensity crude bomb explosion that took place in a Tata Sumo parked 60 metres from a temple. A few policemen and NGO workers are among the injured,” he said.

The blast took place near the Dashnami Akhara temple, which is the main transit camp for pilgrims of the Buddha Amarnath yatra that started on August 9.

“The blast could be the handiwork of local miscreants,” Williams said.

Police have cordoned off the area and a hunt is on for the perpetrators of the attack.

Four people were seriously injured in the blast and referred to the district hospital in Rajouri, and the rest are being treated at a hospital in Poonch.