Tragedy unfolds as terror strikes Shah Noorani shrine

Published November 13, 2016
A man grieves after identifying the body of a relative. ─ Reuters
A man grieves after identifying the body of a relative. ─ Reuters
Volunteers arrange bodies of the victims of shrine bomb blast at a morgue in Karachi. ─ AP
Volunteers arrange bodies of the victims of shrine bomb blast at a morgue in Karachi. ─ AP
Devotees take shelter after a suicide bomb attack near the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Devotees take shelter after a suicide bomb attack near the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
A man carries a boy injured after a bomb blast at a hospital in the Hub district. ─ AFP
A man carries a boy injured after a bomb blast at a hospital in the Hub district. ─ AFP
Devotees board a jeep on their return home from the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani after the bomb blast. ─ AFP
Devotees board a jeep on their return home from the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani after the bomb blast. ─ AFP
Pakistani rescue workers and volunteers unload an injured victim of bomb blast at a Sufi shrine. ─ AP
Pakistani rescue workers and volunteers unload an injured victim of bomb blast at a Sufi shrine. ─ AP
Rescuers transport an injured person to a hospital in Karachi. ─ AFP
Rescuers transport an injured person to a hospital in Karachi. ─ AFP
Women talk on phones while gathering outside of a mortuary in Karachi. ─ AFP
Women talk on phones while gathering outside of a mortuary in Karachi. ─ AFP
An injured boy victim of the bomb blast at a Sufi shrine is treated at a local hospital in Hub. ─ AP
An injured boy victim of the bomb blast at a Sufi shrine is treated at a local hospital in Hub. ─ AP
Pakistani rangers look at the site of the suicide bomb attack. ─ AFP
Pakistani rangers look at the site of the suicide bomb attack. ─ AFP
Pakistani commuters ride towards the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Pakistani commuters ride towards the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
A Pakistani camera man (C) takes video of the suicide blast site. ─ AFP
A Pakistani camera man (C) takes video of the suicide blast site. ─ AFP
Devotees walk back home from the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani following the suicide bomb attack. ─ AFP
Devotees walk back home from the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani following the suicide bomb attack. ─ AFP
A Pakistan Army soldier takes pictures of the suicide blast site. ─ AFP
A Pakistan Army soldier takes pictures of the suicide blast site. ─ AFP
Rangers gather outside the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Rangers gather outside the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Women gather around the coffins of the victims of the bomb blast. ─ AP
Women gather around the coffins of the victims of the bomb blast. ─ AP
Women mourn for their family members. ─ AP
Women mourn for their family members. ─ AP
Rangers stand guard in the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
Rangers stand guard in the shrine of Sufi saint Shah Noorani. ─ AFP
People head back home following the bomb blast. ─ AP
People head back home following the bomb blast. ─ AP
Pakistani Army troops and rescue workers examine the site of the bomb blast. ─ AP
Pakistani Army troops and rescue workers examine the site of the bomb blast. ─ AP

At least 52 people were killed and 102 were injured on Saturday evening in a bombing at the shrine of Shah Norani in Khuzdar district of Balochistan.

The explosion took place at the spot where the dhamaal (Sufi ritual) was being performed, within the premises of the shrine. At the time of the blast, there were at least 500 people gathered at the spot to view the performance.

The shrine is frequented by a large number of devotees on Friday, and is visited by people from across the country. Iranian nationals also frequent the shrine. It is approximately 150 kilometres from Karachi.

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