Six members of a family including children lost their lives in a mortar shell blast inside their house located in Wedan Landi Dak area of Bannu. According to the Police, the blast was reported inside the house of a school teacher Barkat Ullah situated within the jurisdiction of Hawed police station due to which Barkat, his wife and their four children died on the spot.
Those died in the blast included 45-year-old Barkat Ullah, his 35-year-old wife Farhad Bibi, 18-year-old Kalim Ullah, 16-year-old Fahim Ullah, 8-year-old Basna Babi, and 3-year-old Farid Ullah. The dead bodies were rushed to district headquarter hospital. The blast spread panic and fear in the year and rescue workers and police officials rushed to the crime scene.
District Police Officer (DPO) Bannu, Yasir Afridi said the explosion took place inside a room of the house situated within the limits of Haved police station. The blast happened when a mortar shell exploded inside the house. As a result, a man, his wife and their four children lost their lives. It was not immediately known that whether the mortar shell was lying inside the house or came from outside. Investigation into the incident was underway.
Following the blast, police and rescue teams reached the site and launched investigations. The cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained; however, reports claimed that an artillery shell exploded in their house. In Peshawar, KP Police spokesperson, Waqar Khan told media that it was a mortar shell explosion. However, the nature of the shell is still unknown.
Police have collected all evidence which will be examined in the laboratory to determine the nature of the explosion. The bomb disposal squad was at the site of the incident and that an investigation into the incident was underway.