1 killed, 33 wounded in blast inside bus station in Indian-controlled Kashmir

SRINAGAR, Indian-controlled Kashmir, March 7 (Xinhua) -- One person was killed and 33 others were wounded Thursday in a grenade BLAST inside a busy bus station in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The BLAST took place at the main bus station in Jammu city, the winter capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"A BLAST took place at a bus station here today in which 34 people were wounded," medical superintendent at Government Medical College hospital Jammu said. "Of the wounded, one succumbed, while the remaining ones are undergoing treatment here."

Following the BLAST, police contingents rushed to the spot to ascertain the cause of the BLAST and carry out searches in its vicinity to arrest persons behind the attack.

"Preliminary investigations reveal it was a grenade BLAST," a senior police official said. "After it was thrown, it rolled beneath the empty bus parked there which minimised its impact, otherwise it could have caused severe damage because of the rush witnessed here."

The BLAST triggered panic at the bus station that often remains crowded.

"I heard the BLAST and then heard people shouting," Amit Sharma, a local shopkeeper said. "When I rushed outside I saw injured being helped."

Forensic teams have collected samples from the spot to ascertain the nature of the BLAST.

"Samples have been taken from the spot by forensic experts and complete details about the nature of the BLAST will be given out after their report," the official said.

Police have registered the case and ordered investigations into the BLAST. So far no arrest has been made regarding the BLAST, officials said.

"We have ordered investigations and are looking for leads to follow in this case," the police official said. "Since there were no police or paramilitary presence, so it is not clear what the target was."

A guerilla war is going on between militants and Indian troopers stationed in the region since 1989.

Kashmir, the Himalayan region divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed by both in full. Since their independence from Britain, the two countries have fought three wars, two exclusively over Kashmir.