Lahore: Blast at Old Anarkali food street leaves 5 dead, 46 injured

LAHORE: At least five persons including a six year old girl were killed and scores more were injured when a bomb ripped through a packed restaurant in Old Anarkali area here on Saturday night, Geo News reported.

Police said a timed device was used to detonate the bomb planted outside a restaurant in Old Anarkali's food street.

"Around 5-6 kilogramme explosive was used in the bomb hidden under the one of the dining tables or some other part of the restaurant, however no crater was formed after the blast", said a Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) official.

However, CCPO police later said that half Kg of explosive material was rigged under a freezer.

The restaurant, which was full of happy diners relishing their favourite savories, turned into a mess of torn furniture with food all over the place in the wake of the blast.

According to Rescue 1122 sources, at least 37 injured were rushed to Mayo Hospital from the blast site, but three of them could not survive. They said that 20 people were in critical condition.Two more people died of their wounds during treatment.

An emergency was declared in the Mayo Hospital, which is one of the biggest healthcare facilities in Lahore.

Five injured were shifted to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital while 37 were rushed to Mayo, the rescue sources said.

Old Anarkali is one of the most populous as well as most frequented areas of Lahore, which is famous for its variety of eateries being the oldest food street of the city.

A number of neighbouring shops and vehicles parked outside the unfortunate restaurant were also damaged in the blast.