DERA ISMAIL KHAN, Jan 26: Six people were killed and 22 others injured when a bomb rigged to a bicycle exploded in a populated area here on Monday.

Three of the victims were in a car while the other three were walking past the bicycle parked in front of the main gate of the town hall.

Parts of the damaged bicycle, a rickshaw and a car were seen at the place.

The powerful explosion destroyed most of the shops and damaged several buildings.

The deceased were identified as Mohammad Ibrahim, Ashfaq, Ahmed Nawaz, Hakim Ramazan, Rafique and Mohammad Aslam.

According to police, the bodies were handed over to relatives after post-mortem.

The injured, seven of them in serious condition, were taken to the DHQ hospital where an emergency was declared.

The girls hostel of Gomal Medical College, Rehmania Hospital and the Dera Press Club are situated in the area, but police were not certain if any of the buildings were the target.

Soon after the explosion, sporadic incidents of firing in the air were reported from different areas of the city.