LAHORE: Sixty people, including three Rangers officials, were killed and over 80 received injuries when a suicide bomber blew himself up at the third Rangers checkpost, around 500 yards away from the Wagah border on Sunday.

Forty-five people, including women and children, died on the spot, while 15 others succumbed to injuries at different hospitals.The injured were shifted to the Ghurki, Services and Mayo hospitals where the condition of 30 victims was stated to be critical.

The DG Rangers (Punjab), Maj Gen Tahir Javed Khan, confirmed that a suicide bomber had carried out the attack. DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf said the crime scene implied that the suicide bomber was carrying around 15 kilograms of explosives and a bag. He ruled out the impression of the use of an explosive device, saying the blast created only a one-inch crater.

To a question, he said ball bearings were used in the blast, adding that the suicide bomber’s legs had been recovered from the blast site; however, his head could not be found. The area was manned by the Rangers, the DIG responded to a query.

The Rangers officials, eyewitnesses and rescuers told The News that a large number of visitors were returning home from the Wagah border after watching the flag-lowering ceremony. As they reached near a small market close to the Customs Gate, a suicide bomber detonated the explosives at around 5:40pm. The victims received multiple injuries due to ball bearings and splinters.

Soon after the incident, Rangers officials shifted the victims to the Ghurki Hospital and cordoned off the area. Rescue 1122, Edhi and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) ambulances reached the scene to shift the remaining victims. Later on, 54 dead bodies were shifted to Mayo Hospital morgue.

Thirty critically injured persons were shifted to other hospitals where six more people succumbed to injuries. Over 50 people were under treatment at Ghurki Hospital. At least ten women were among the victims, police

said, while three officials of Rangers died and five others received injuries in the blast.

Bomb disposal squad and forensic experts also reached the scene to collect evidence, while the CCPO Lahore and DIG Operations also visited the crime scene. However, Rangers stopped media persons from covering the incident.

The DG Rangers reached at the second check post of Rangers, where media was stopped, and told reporters that a bomber carried out the bombing 30 minutes after the flag-lowering ceremony.

He said they had made foolproof security arrangements with walk-through gates installed and visitors allowed after being frisked. He said three officials had laid down their lives by intercepting the suicide bomber around 500 meters from the parade avenue.

The DG Rangers said the death toll would have been much greater had the bomber been able to enter the main venue where hundreds of people were watching the ceremony. He appreciated the Rangers personnel who had stopped the bomber from entering the main premises at the border.

Police said a large number of people were either on their way back or waiting for their vehicles after attending the flag-lowering ceremony when the explosion rocked the area.

Tuba, a 15-year-old-girl, lost five of her family members - father Muhammad Pervaiz, uncle Abdul Sattar, aunt Humaira, brother Mubashar and cousin Zaheer, while Imran, Kausar, Kiran, Maham and Haider were injured.

Tuba - a resident of Shalimar, Lahore - told The News at the Ghurki Hospital that she was in the park near the market hardly five to six feet away from the bombing scene at the time of explosion.

The girl - who had come with all her family members to watch the flag-lowering ceremony - while in tears said the marriage ceremony of her brother Mubashar was scheduled within next two weeks time.

There was hue and cry at the blast site. Women were weeping, children were crying and some people were rushing here and there, Tuba said, adding that there was blood every where on the ground.

Tuba had some leg injuries and was discharged from the hospital after necessary treatment.A Ranger official deployed at a checkpost confided to The News that he was having a meal after performing his duties when he heard the blast. According to him, the blast was occurred at the Customs Gate. There was a complete panic everywhere, he added.

Mahmood, whose house is located just a kilometre and half from the blast site, said he was at home when he heard the explosion. At first, he thought that it was a cylinder blast but the Rangers personnel deployed near his house informed him that there was a suicide attack near the ticket issuing booth, he added.

To a question, Mahmood said Rangers officials had started shifting the injured to hospital before the arrival of Rescue 1122 who reached the scene 30 minutes of the blast.An eyewitness said he saw people being flung away by the blast. “People were lying on the ground under a pile of debris,” said Akram, who was among the first few to rescue the injured.

The local residents, who helped police look for the victims, described the horrific sight, saying all of them were screaming for help.Soon after the terror strike, police tightened security at railway stations and other public places in the city. Rangers and police cordoned off the area and blocked traffic moving towards Wagha border. The Batapur police have yet to register FIR of the incident.

Meanwhile, the final prayers of the martyred officials - Inspector Rizwan, Naik Shabbir and Lance Naik Sultan - were offered at the Punjab Rangers Headquarters. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Sarwar, DG Rangers and other officials were among the participants.

