Summary A mourning procession was hit by an explosion, killing 23 persons on Wednesday night.
A suicide attack near near Qasr-e-Shabbir Imam Bargah in Dhok Sayyadan area on Misrial Road in Rawalpindi on Wednesday has killed at least 23 people and 46 others were injured.
According to reports, the explosion took place in the parking area of the Imam Bargah. The suicide bomber entered the Muharram procession and detonated the explosives strapped to his body. Seven hand grenades have also been recovered from the spot of the blast. The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals. However, due to area being heavily populated, rescue workers were reported to be having difficulties.
The Misrial Road area was put on high alert by the authorities during the holy month of Muharram.
Emergency has been declared at all hospitals of the city. Police and other security agencies have cordoned off the area.
The death toll, it is feared, could mount as some of the injured are reportedly in critical condition.
Meanwhile, rescue teams reached the scene and started shifting the injured to hospitals, where emergency has been declared.
The blast also caused a blackout in the area.
According to eye-witnesses, locals struggled to shift the injured to hospitals as vehicles were parked far from the Imam Bargah.
Security forces have surrounded the area and trying to preserve the evidence by clearing the area of the people.
