SOUTH WAZIRISTAN: A child was killed and three others suffered injuries when a mortar shell they were playing with went off near Azam Warsak Bazaar in Birmal tehsil of Lower South Waziristan district on Saturday.

District police officer Asif Bahader said that the incident happened when the children, aged between 8-10 years, picked up a mortar shell and started playing with it. “The shell suddenly exploded, causing injuries to four children, who were immediately rushed to the District Headquarters Hospital, Wana.

The DPO said that one of the children, identified as Mohammad Aryan, succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

He further said that the injured children identified as Mudasar, Talha and Sufian, belonged to the Wazir Ashrafkhel tribe.

Political and social figures in Lower South Waziristan expressed deep sorrow about the tragic incident, offering heartfelt sympathy to the families of the affected children. They described such incidents as alarming and highlighted the need for increased vigilance to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2025