50 killed in suicide blast at Wagah border in Pakistan

Lahore: Nearly 50 people, including children and security personnel, were killed and 70 others injured in a powerful suicide blast in Pakistan at Wagah Sunday, minutes after the popular flag-lowering ceremony at the Indo-Pak border.

The powerful explosion occurred in the parking area of the Wagah border between India and Pakistan, as the flag lowering-ceremony ended this evening.

48 people have been killed while nearly 70 others have been injured in the explosion and it is feared that the death toll could rise, Geo TV reported.

Huge crowds gather every day at the crossing to watch a "lowering of the flags" ceremony, which soldiers from both countries have conducted for decades.

Earlier reports had said it could be a cylinder blast.

Inspector General, Punjab Police, Mushtaq Sukhera said, the suicide attacker approached the gate as the crowd was vacating the parade area where the flag ceremony is held.

He said, "Our teams have confirmed that it was a suicide blast". The IG said that the suicide bomber was stopped at the gate of the parade ground at the border and detonated the bomb right when people gathered near the gate.

"Up to five kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the blast," Sukhera said.

"The bomb exploded outside a restaurant near a Pakistani paramilitary soldiers' checkpoint at Wagah border," he added.

Pakistani Rangers have cordoned off the blast site.

TV footage showed shops and nearby buildings destroyed at the site of the blast. Security and rescue personnel have rushed to the spot while the injured have been taken to hospital.

Emergency has been declared at all hospitals in Lahore. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has called for a report on the incident.

Wagah is the only road border crossing between Amritsar and the Pakistani city of Lahore.