70 killed, dozens injured in deadly blast at Lal Shabaz Qalander Shrine

An emergency has been declared in hospitals across Dadu, Sehwan, and Hyderabad

JAMSHORO – At least 70 innocent people have been killed and dozens of other wounded in a deadly suicide bombing at Lal Shahbaz Qalandar shrine in Sehwan area of Jamshoro in Sindh province.

The shrine is situated slightly off the Super Highway in Dadu district. Sehwan in Jamshoro is the constituency of Sindh chief minister.

ASP of Sehwan told, ‘the suicide bomber struck near the compound of the shrine, where people were performing ‘dhamaal’ and bomber entered the compound from the shrine’s Golden Gate.

Eyewitnesses described scenes in the shrine’s compound where human body parts were seen scattered. Some bodies were also seen lying on the floor.

An emergency has been declared in hospitals across Dadu, Sehwan, and Hyderabad. Medical facilities near the blast site are said to be insufficient to handle large-scale casualties.

Mairaj Ahmed in-charge Edhi Foundation told ambulances from Hyderabad and Jamshoro have been sent to Sehwan. The town has a taluka hospital but it is not equipped with a trauma center to deal with emergency cases.

Local authorities appealed the people for blood donation. Many of the injured were shifted to the hospital in rickshaws, on foot and on carts before the ambulances arrived.

According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Navy helicopters, PAF aircraft were being dispatched for rescue operations. Army chief General Qamar Bajwa also directed the medical teams to assist in relief and rescue operation.

It is the fifth blast in less than a week targeting innocent people.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned the deadly attack that an attack on a single Pakistani was an attack on all Pakistanis.