QUETTA, Dec 27: A bomb exploded in the central part of the city on Monday afternoon. No one was injured. However, windowpanes of some nearby buildings were smashed, official sources said.

Sources said unknown persons had planted a local made device in an open drain at Adalat Road that went off at around 4.40pm, creating panic among the people of the area.

"It was a local made bomb planted in the open drain with timer," said Mukhtar Ahmed, a senior officer of the bomb disposal squad. The Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Quetta Range, Pervez Rafi Bhatti, rushed to the site along with a police contingent and started investigation.

He told reporters that the bomb blast was part of other explosions which had been occurring in Quetta and other parts of the province. "The aim of the blast was just to create panic among the people," he said.

Replying to a question, he said the police had arrested 35 people in connection with Quetta Meezan Chowk out of which 30 were released after necessary interrogation.

"Five suspects are still in police custody for interrogation," Mr Bhatti said, adding that the police had reached close to the accused involved in the Meezan Chowk explosion which claimed 11 lives and injuring 27 others.