Twin blasts rock Karakoram Highway

Several persons were injured when twin blasts occurred near Khanpur area in Mansehra when the convoy of security forces was passing through Shahrah-e-Karakoram today. According to the police, the first blast occurred when an improvised explosive device (IED) fixed along the Shahrah-e-Karakoram went off while the security forces’ convoy was passing through Khanpur area. As a result of the explosion, several persons including a security man was injured while a vehicle was also damaged. Police said the convoy was on its way to Gilgit from Rawalpindi when the blast occurred. Sources said that the second blast took place at the same place while the rescue operation was in progress and the injured were being shifted to the hospital for treatment. After the twin blasts, security forces cordoned off the area and launched further investigations into the incident. Police and bomb disposal squad reached the site and started a search operation.