At least 13 people have died in two different explosions that took place in Pakistan today.
At least 12 people were killed and just as many injured on Saturday when a powerful explosion tore through the premises of a private bank in Karachi, the Express Tribune reported.
The building, located near Paracha Chowk, was built on a nullah and has a fuel station adjacent to it. Following the explosion, the bank premises collapsed and most of the casualties are reportedly customers and staff present inside the bank, the report said.
The cause of the explosion is being investigated and officials say they cannot confirm yet whether it was a gas pipeline or a build-up of methane that took place inside the nullah which led to the explosion.
The explosion was heard for miles and shattered windows of nearby buildings and also damaged vehicles parked in its proximity.
Another blast has occurred in Kandaharhari Bazaar area of Quetta, capital of the restive province of Balochistan where Baloch people are wagging a struggle for independence led by outfits like Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). One person was killed and six injured, as per last reports.
According to the police, it was a bomb blast that occurred near Bukhari Center and the bomb was planted in a motorcycle. The explosion also damaged several vehicles, parked nearby and buildings.
Footage from the scene showed a charred motorcycle and several damaged cars. People were seen running in the street. The rescue officials have arrived at the scene and the injured have been moved to the hospital.
Just last month, two police officers were among seven people injured when a remote-controlled bomb went off in Quetta. The blast targeted a police van close to a high security area in Nawa Killi.
(With IANS inputs)