From Ground Zero: Blast in Pulwama So Big It Was Heard 10 Km Away, Body Parts Were Strewn on Highway
Team Udayavani, Feb 15, 2019, 5:28 AM IST
Srinagar: The scene of devastation and destruction caused on Thursday by the suicide car bomb attack that killed at least 37 security personnel sent chills down the spine of unsuspecting locals who witnessed the blood bath in Pulwama district’s Awantipora area, about 20 km from here.
The explosive used in the attack was so strong that the blast was heard from 10-12 km away, including some parts of Srinagar adjoining the Pulwama district, locals said.
Body parts of the terrorist, identified as Adil Ahmad, and the CRPF personnel killed in the attack were strewn on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway, where the incident happened.
Some of the bodies were so badly blown up that officials feel it may take some time to identify them.
This was the first suicide car bomb strike in Kashmir since the 2001 attack on the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly that left 41 persons, including three suicide attackers, dead.
More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when the suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a bus carrying 39-44 jawans, officials said.
There was nothing at the scene of the incident to suggest which type of vehicle was used to carry out the attack except the mangled heap of iron of the bus that was the target.
As soon as the explosion took place, people started running for safety. The shopkeepers at Lethpora market, which is less than 300 metres from the scene of the attack, downed their shutters and fled.
The scene of the incident is not very far from the Commando Training Centre at Lethpora, which was stormed by Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorists on December 31, 2017, killing five CRPF personnel.
The Jammu-Srinagar Highway has been witness to several terror attacks on the security forces. CRPF bore the brunt of an attack at Pampore, less than seven kilometres from Lethpora, in June 2016, losing eight jawans while 22 others sustained injuries.
Terrorists had attacked a CRPF convoy in Pampore area in February that year as well, before taking refuge at a government building. The operation against the holed up terrorists lasted more than two days and resulted in the death of nine persons, including three Armymen and three ultras.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Can’t control elections or pass directions on basis of suspicion: SC tells EVM critics
Not shying away from dealing with stray dogs issue but will not allow scope to be expanded, says SC
Delhi: Man standing atop truck dies after his head hits metro station beam
Bullet train project completion date rests on award of all tenders, says Railways in RTI reply
What ‘nyay’ Cong can do, when its councillor’s daughter in K’taka doesn’t get justice: Thakur
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
WATCH: 5 runaway military horses cause mayhem in London
FIR filed over BJP’s social media post allegedly promoting hatred and enmity: EC
Can’t control elections or pass directions on basis of suspicion: SC tells EVM critics
Amitabh Bachchan receives Lata Deenanath Mangeshkar Puraskar
Hubballi: Congress leader Randeep Surjewala visits Neha’s house, assures justice to family