Eight people were killed and more than 70 wounded on Monday when a powerful car bomb exploded near a school in a busy town in Indian Kashmir, security officials said.
Witnesses said pieces of human flesh were scattered near the site of the explosion in Pulwama town south of Srinagar, Kashmir’s summer capital. Three children were among the wounded.
No militant group has claimed responsibility for the explosion, which damaged the school as well as dozens of shops, houses and vehicles.
Sandals, shoes and broken vehicle parts were strewn across the road, which was stained with pools of blood. Some distance away, text-books and writing pads were scattered in a damaged classroom of a school.
It was the worst incident of separatist violence in Kashmir since moderate separatist politicians began a historic trip to Pakistan on June 4 for talks on the disputed Himalayan region, which is claimed by both India and Pakistan.
“After a loud explosion I fell down and could only hear people screaming for help. After a while I saw my both legs were bleeding,” one of the victims, Mohammad Shafi, told Reuters.
“I have never witnessed such a devastating blast. We are still waiting for details,” Abdul Rashid, a police official, said.
Police fired in the air and used tear gas to disperse hundreds of people protesting against the blast, blaming it on the government. Three protesters were wounded, witnesses said.
“The people are grief-stricken and angry but it is confirmed that the blast was carried out by militants,” Sheikh Owais, a senior police official, said.
Soldiers patrolled the streets after the explosion in Pulwama town, which has witnessed much bloodshed in the past 16 years.
Bomb blasts and gun battles occur almost daily between rebels and Indian troops, despite an 18-month peace process between nuclear rivals India and Pakistan, which have fought two wars over the region.
More than 45,000 people have died in Kashmir since a revolt began against Indian rule in 1989.
