September 01, 2008	Monday	Sha'aban 29, 1429

MARDAN, Aug 31: A local bridge was blown up while another sabotage attempt was foiled as four bombs were defused before explosion, officials and residents told Dawn here on Sunday.

The Hoti Bridge was destroyed as some unidentified miscreants had reportedly planted two bombs in the bridge which went off with a bang. A considerable portion of the bridge was destroyed and traffic was blocked but efforts were being made to reopen route.

No militant organisation claimed responsibility for the bomb blast immediately. Locals of the area said that the bomb blast also damaged five nearby shops and a house. After the midnight incident, residents of the area were in a state of panic as people awaken due to the laud noise, owner of the damaged house said. Windowpanes and doors of the house blew up and children were crying in fear, he added.

The bridge had been damaged by flood in 2006, in which about 44 people were drowned. The bridge was in dilapidated condition, neither the former MMA regime nor the present ANP-led government bothered to properly repair it.—Correspondent