Lahore railway station blast toll up at 4

LAHORE: Tuesday's bomb blast at Lahore railway stations continues to kill as another victim lost battle against his injuries that proved fatal on Wednesday upping to death toll to four, Geo News reported.

The third victim, a seven-year-old victim, had died at the Mayo Hospital earlier in the day.

The injured seven years old child Mehmood resident of Khanpur was admitted in Mayo Hospital after the blast.

According to police and district administration sources, the bomb was planted in a bag and placed in front of the Business train counter.

The Railway Police sources stated the bomb exploded during search by police constable, which left two persons dead on the spot and injured several others.

The two who died on the spot were identified as Porter Muhammad Boota (50) and Railway Police Constable Muhammad Idrees (50).

Federal Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour condemning the blast announced immediate constitution of an investigation committee headed by Inspector General of Railways Police to probe the blast.

The Minister said all security agencies had been directed to ensure protection of life of passengers as well as railway assets.

The minister also announced a compensation of Rs 500,000 each for the dead and Rs 100,000 each for the injured of the blast.

Earlier, the SSP Railways Shahzad Aslam, while talking to the media, said that blast footage could not be captured, as all close circuit Television (CCTV) cameras were out of order over the last six months.
The SSP said the incident took place at about 6:02 pm when an unattended briefcase, full of explosives, went off at the Platform No. 2 which killed three people, including a Railway policeman, a porter and an unknown passenger, on the spot and injured several others.

The Pakistan Railways management, soon after the incident, restored the operations of upward and downward trains at the Lahore Railway Station.

The Rescue sources said Railway police officials, porters and children were among the injured. The condition of two injured among 58 is stated to be critical and they were being treated at Mayo, Services, Children and Ganga Ram hospitals.

At least 49 injured, including 15 women and 34 men, were shifted to Mayo Hospital, one child at Children Hospital, six to Ganga Ram Hospital and two injured were transported to the Services Hospital.