GILGIT, Feb 16: At least five people were injured, one of them critically, in an explosion at an imambargah here on Monday, police sources said. They said the blast also damaged the imambargah building in Nagaral locality on the Shaheed-i-Millat Road.

Mohammad Sahrif, 22; Muddasar, 10; Muzammil, 9; Sajid, 20; and Iqrar, 14, all residents of the Nagaral locality, were injured. They said the injured had been shifted to the district headquarters hospital, where doctors said the condition of Sajid was critical.

A resident of the area, Iqbal Hussain, said a locally-made explosive device had been hidden in a pickle jar in the imambargah. He said one of the injured was alarmed by a pungent smell as the worshippers were set to offer Isha prayers. He lost his arm while trying to throw away the jar, the witness said.

Police said they had not found any clue to the terrorists but had barricaded the site. Some residents said protesters had put hurdles on the roads in and around Nagaral.

They said an army vehicle was seen overturned on the Shaheed-i-Millat Road. The police said they have controlled the situation and started investigation.