ISLAMABAD – At least 40 Indian soldiers were killed on Thursday inIndian-administered Kashmir in the deadliest attack on government forces inmore than two years, ANIlinknewsagency reported.
“Death toll in the Pulwama attack is around 40,” K Vijay Kumar, advisor tothe Indian-administered Kashmir Governor, told ANI.
Police said that it was an improvised explosive device (IED) while the CRPFsaid that the explosives were inside a car. Media reports said theexplosive-laden vehicle was driven into the convoy.
Two blue buses carrying around 35 people each bore the brunt of theexplosion around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the main city of Srinagar onthe main highway towards Jammu.
“It was a powerful explosion. The explosive was car-borne,” CRPF spokesmanSanjay Kumar told AFP.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, another CRPF official said at least 29troops were injured in the blast, which damaged a number of vehicles in theconvoy.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that the latest attack was“despicable”.
“I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our bravesecurity personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulderto shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs,” Modi said.
It is the deadliest attack on Indian forces in that part of Kashmir sinceSeptember 2016 when 19 soldiers were killed in a pre-dawn militant raid onthe Uri army camp.
India has an estimated 500,000 soldiers in Kashmir. – APP/AFP
