A Suicide blast ripped through two pilgrims’ buses on Tuesday(January 21), killing at least 23 and injuring over 35 in Bolochistan’s district mastung.

The two buses were part of a convoy carrying 103 pilgrims, including women and children, who were returning from Iran.

According to police report at least 12 dead bodies and 13 injured were shifted to Quetta from Mastung.

Ambulances were sent from Quetta to retrieve the dead bodies and injured and transferred to the Combined Military Hospital.

Firing is reported to have taken place following the blast. Soon after the blast, security officials cordoned off the area.

An official of the bomb disposal squad confirmed that it was a suicide bomb attack.

Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen has declared three days of mourning for the victims of the blast.

The banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LJ) has claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on the bus of pilgrims in Daringar area of Mastung district, which claimed 23 lives besides injuring 35 others.

After increasing number of attacks on Shia pilgrims, security on Quetta-Taftan highway was beefed up and the buses carrying Shia pilgrims were escorted by FC and Balochistan Levies personnel.

A large number of Shia pilgrims go to Iran to visit the sacred places through Quetta and most of them travel on passenger buses.