At least 20 people were killed and over 50 others wounded in a blast targeting a place of worship in southern Sindh province of Pakistan on Friday, said officials.
According to officials, the explosion occurred inside a central Imambargah (a place of worship for Shia Muslims) in Shikarpur district of Sindh. Civil Hospital Shikarpur official, Superintendent Shaukat Memon confirmed that at least 20 people were killed and 55 others injured in the blast.
Information Minister for Sindh province, Sharjeel Inam Memon, confirming the incident -- said to the media that an emergency had been imposed at all hospitals in Shikarpur and neighboring cities.
A number of victims were trapped under debris after the roof of the Imambargah collapsed due to the intensive blast, said rescue officials.
The security forces and rescue teams immediately reached the site of the incident and shifted the wounded to nearby hospitals. The condition of several the wounded was reported critical and the death toll was feared to rise.
The nature of the blast was not ascertained yet but security officials suspected that it might be a suicide attack.
The political party representing Shia sect, Majlis Wahdatul Muslimeen, announced three days mourning, describing the incident a failure of the government. President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif issued condemnation messages against the incident.