An explosion occurred in Lahore's western suburbs on Monday evening which resulted in injuries to more than a dozen people. DIG Operations Dr Haider Ashraf, while talking to media, confirmed that the explosion happened in a fruit laden truck which was parked at a parking lot on Out Fall Road in Islampura area.
The police official said that explosives were hidden in the truck which accidentally triggered, causing damage to scores of vehicles parked in the area.
The injured were rushed to nearby Mian Munshi Hospital and Mayo Hospital, where an emergency has been imposed. Due to a power breakdown following the blast, hospital authorities are facing problems in carrying out emergency operations.
Police and other law enforcement personnel (LEAs), including forensic experts, reached the blast site soon after the incident and cordoned it off.
Initial reports had suggested that the blast occurred after a truck crashed into a transformer. Police officials suspected that the truck was carrying explosive materials.
The roof of a nearby house had collapsed due to the intensity of the explosion, while the windowpanes of nearby buildings had shattered from the shock waves. A number of automobiles were also damaged in the incident.
There have been several high-profile terrorism incidents in Punjab's capital city this year.
Last month, 26 people, including nine policemen, were killed and 58 others were injured in a bombing attack near the Arfa Karim IT Tower on Lahore's Ferozepur Road.
Another blast, targeting a census team in April, had resulted in the deaths of six people, including five forces personnel.
Similarly, a suicide blast on February 13 had ripped through a camp of protesting chemists in front of the Punjab Assembly, leaving 13 people dead and 70 others wounded.
This is a developing story
