Death toll mounts to 26 in Awantipora IED attack

SRINAGAR — The death toll in Awantipora militant attack has mounted to 26. A top police officer said that the death toll has increased to 26, news gathering agency KNO reported.

Earlier, KNO reported from its sources that 13 CRPF men were killed while 44 were injured in a car bomb attack along Srinagar-Jammu highway in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district. They had said that a bus of CRPF was also damaged.

Earlier reports also said that the militants rammed the car into the CRPF bus, triggering off an intensive blast, thus leaving 13 CRPF men dead and 44 others injured.

The others seriously wounded were shifted to hospital for medical attention, they had said, adding that the several among the injured CRPF men later succumbed to their injuries, taking the death toll in attack to 26.

Meanwhile, soon after the deadly IED attack, police and other security agencies have sounded a red alert across Kashmir, including Srinagar to prevent further such attacks.

“This is a normal routine. Yes, we have sounded a red alert across Kashmir including Srinagar, a top CRPF said as reported by KNO.

He said that security installations across Kashmir have been asked to stay alert and to maintain extra vigil to thwart such bids. The attack has been claimed by the Jaish-e-Muhamamd outfit.