SRINAGAR, July 18: Thirty-two people, including children and police officers, were wounded on Friday in an explosion at a busy bus station in occupied Kashmir, police said.

The incident took place in Banihal town, about 120km south of occupied Srinagar, a police spokesman said. “Five of the injured — including two police officers — are in critical condition,” he said, adding the area was immediately sealed off and searches launched to find those responsible for the attack.

Police said suspected militants hurled a hand grenade at a group of police officers gathered at the bus station.

Civilian bystanders, including children, were also injured in the attack, a local reporter said. Abdul Rashid told AFP from Banihal that residents fled in panic following the explosion, with many people taking shelter on buses and inside nearby shops.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack comes a day after a civilian was killed and his son seriously wounded when a grenade exploded inside their home in Awantipore.—Agencies