Bomb Blast in South Waziristan Injures 13, Including Police and Civilians
A remote-controlled bomb exploded near a police van in South Waziristan’s Wana Rustam Bazar on Monday, injuring 13 people, including six police personnel and seven civilians. The attack occurred on Kir Kot Road, where police were providing security for an ongoing anti-polio campaign.
According to a hospital official, rescue teams quickly arrived and transported the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital Wana. One critically injured victim was transferred to Dera Ismail Khan for advanced medical care. Medical Superintendent Hamad Mahmood confirmed that both civilians and police officers were among the injured.
The attack specifically targeted one of two police vehicles assigned to protect polio workers in the area. The police have closed off the region from the public, and an investigation is underway to identify and apprehend those responsible.
District Health Officer Inayat Rahman noted that the anti-polio campaign across the district commenced today, aiming to vaccinate approximately 70,000 children aged five and above. To ensure the safety of 297 polio teams involved in the campaign, 480 police personnel have been deployed throughout the district.
This incident underscores the ongoing risks faced by both security forces and polio workers in Pakistan’s north-western regions, which are known for their volatility and security challenges. Over the past decade, numerous attacks on polio workers have been reported, contributing to a climate of fear among those involved in vaccination efforts. Earlier this year, separate attacks in Tank and Dera Ismail Khan districts also resulted in injuries to police officers on polio duty, emphasizing the continuing threats faced in these areas.
Doubts Revealed
South Waziristan -: South Waziristan is a district in Pakistan, located in the north-western part of the country. It is known for its mountainous terrain and has been a site of conflict.
remote-controlled bomb -: A remote-controlled bomb is an explosive device that can be set off from a distance using a remote control, similar to how you might use a remote to control a TV.
Wana Rustam Bazar -: Wana Rustam Bazar is a market area in South Waziristan. ‘Bazar’ means market in Hindi and Urdu.
anti-polio campaign -: An anti-polio campaign is an effort to vaccinate people, especially children, against polio, a disease that can cause paralysis. Polio campaigns are important for keeping people healthy.
civilians -: Civilians are people who are not part of the military or police. They are regular citizens like you and me.
rescue teams -: Rescue teams are groups of people trained to help others in emergencies, like accidents or natural disasters. They provide medical help and transport injured people to hospitals.
investigation -: An investigation is a process where authorities look into what happened, gather evidence, and try to find out who is responsible for an incident, like a crime or accident.
security forces -: Security forces are groups like the police and military that work to keep a country and its people safe from threats and dangers.
polio workers -: Polio workers are people who help with the anti-polio campaign. They give vaccines to children to protect them from polio.