Srinagar, July 29
At least five persons, including four women, were killed and 22 others injured due to a low-intensity blast inside a tourist bus near the Shalimar Gardens here this afternoon.

The police said the nature of the blast was being ascertained by experts from forensic laboratory. Those killed were guests of a local Nawa-Kadal family, who were visiting the Mughal Gardens after offering prayers at Hazratbal Shrine. As they reached Shalimar, a low-intensity blast took place in which three persons were killed and eight others injured who have been hospitalised, the police said. Three persons were killed on the spot in the bus (registration No: GJ-23P-9977). The bus was also damaged due to the impact of the explosion. Two others later succumbed to their injuries in the hospital. The injured have been admitted to various hospitals where the condition of some of them is stated to be serious.

Those killed have been identified as Mohammad Moosa Sheikh and three women, Syeda, Razia and Aamina Bibi from Gujarat, and Nusrat, daughter of Mohammad Abdullah from Nawakadal. The tourists were guests of Mohammad Abdullah at Nawakadal here.

This is the first such incident in which the tourists have been targeted this year. A series of attacks by suspected militants on tourists were made last year leading to the decline in the flow of tourists through the summer season.

Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed grief and shock over the death of five persons and injuries to others in the incident and ordered investigation to ascertain the cause.

Immediately after he came to know about the tragic incident, the Chief Minister asked the Director General of Police and other officers to rush to the spot, evacuate the injured to hospital and ascertain details of the incident.

The Chief Minister said he was pained to know about the incident and conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He directed the health officials to provide best possible treatment to the injured and prayed for their speedy recovery.

Former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and PDP president, Mehbooba Mufti have strongly condemned the dastardly attack.

While expressing grief and anguish over the loss of innocent lives in the senseless attack they described it as an act of frustration perpetrated by the elements having no regard for humanity or any religion. They said the elements perpetrating such bizarre acts of violence against the tourists are in fact the enemies of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They said such terrible acts of violence are not only aimed at sabotaging the peace efforts but also set a blow to the rejuvenating economic activity in the state.

Meanwhile, one militant of Hizbul Mujahideen was killed in an encounter with security forces at Pampore in Pulwama district today. He has been identified as Farooq Aghmad Sheikh, alias Illiyas, from Khrew who was the Commander of Hizbul Mujahideen for the Ttral area in Pulwama district and had been involved in various incidents of violence, the police here said.

The CM, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has ordered a probe into the blast.