Blast near Jawahar Tunnel in J-K's Banihal, CRPF bus with 40 jawans suffers damage

A blast has occurred near Jawahar Tunnel in Banihal on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. The blast happened in a Santro car when a convoy of security forces was passing nearby. However, no casualties have been reported so far. CRPF sources say the prima facie blast in the car seems to be a cylinder explosion, CRPF convoy was at a significant distance from the explosion site and it does not appear to be a terror attack, news agency ANI reported. There were more than 40 CRPF personnel travelling in the bus, according to reports. The driver is absconding and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have started an investigation into the matter.

"Today around 10.30 am, an explosion took place in a civil car near Banihal, Jammu and Kashmir while CRPF convoy was on move. The car caught fire and slight damage was caused in the rear of one of the CRPF vehicle. No injuries were caused to CRPF Personnel. Incident being investigated," CRPF said in a statement.

On February 14, at least 42 CRPF personnel were killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 30 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district that also left many critically wounded.

More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora in south Kashmir.