11 killed, 18 injured in Dera Ismail Khan blast

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: At least 11 people were killed and 18 others injured in an explosion near the Aman Mela Check Post in the Darazinda area of Dera Ismail Khan, according to Rescue 1122.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said the emergency team from Darazinda reached the site soon after receiving information about the blast and began rescue operations.

He said all 18 injured people were given initial medical treatment before being shifted to nearby hospitals. Rescue teams also recovered the bodies of 11 victims from the scene.

Additional ambulances and personnel were sent from Karak, Hangu and Dera Ismail Khan to support the emergency response. Six ambulances, a firefighting vehicle and more than 25 rescue officials are currently involved in the operation.

Four additional ambulances were dispatched from Dera Ismail Khan on the instructions of District Emergency Officer Muhammad Arif Khan to speed up medical assistance and transportation of the injured.

Rescue teams continued relief operations at the site, while authorities monitored the situation. The immediate cause of the explosion was not officially disclosed.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi sought a detailed report from senior officials following the incident. He described the blast as a terrorist attack and directed authorities to ensure that all injured victims receive the best possible medical treatment.

The explosion comes amid heightened security concerns in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa following a series of deadly attacks.

Last week, a blast at a mosque inside the Kohat Police Lines killed 23 people, including 15 police personnel. Eight militants were later killed during a security operation in the area. The Ittihadul Mujahideen Pakistan, led by Afghanistan-based Hafiz Gul Bahadur, subsequently claimed responsibility for the attack.

In another incident in Hangu, six security personnel, including a captain and a lieutenant, were killed in an exchange of fire, while security forces killed eight militants.

Pakistan has also carried out air and ground operations against militant hideouts following the recent attacks. Authorities said 37 militants were killed in the operations.

Pakistan’s air defence systems also intercepted eight drones that entered the country’s airspace from Afghanistan. Four were reportedly shot down near the Torkham border, while four others were brought down in mountainous areas near Kohat.