KARACHI: A huge explosion took place during a Rangers search operation in Karachi's Orangi Town area late Monday night, completely razing a house, DawnNews reported.

The explosion was followed by exchange of fire between Rangers personnel and suspects, which continued for a while.

Initially, police sources had said the explosion was a suicide blast during a Rangers operation in Orangi Town.

Talking to Dawn late Monday night after the blast, Karachi-West Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Feroze Shah had said an alleged suicide bomber had blown himself up in Faqir Colony of Orangi Town during a Rangers search operation.

Shah said when the paramilitary force encircled the suspect, he first hurled hand grenades at security officials and later blew himself up.

However, after Rangers personnel cleared the area of suspects, a bomb disposal squad was called in to secure the site and to determine the nature of the blast.

After an initial survey, the bomb disposal squad said the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED), adding that further investigation of the debris will be conducted in daylight.

The squad said three dead bodies had been recovered from the debris so far.

Meanwhile, a Rangers spokesperson said no Rangers official was killed in the operation but there was one injury. The final death toll from the operation will be released to media after the debris has been completely removed, the spokesman added.