Khyber, Feb 28 (V7N) – At least five people have been killed, and twenty more injured in a blast at a madrasa in the Nowshera area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Authorities believe that the toll could rise, as many others are feared to be injured.

According to reports from Dawn News TV, the explosion occurred in the main hall of the madrasa during the Friday prayers. Reuters further noted that the madrasa has been known for training Taliban leaders in Afghanistan.

Deputy Police Officer Abdul Rashid confirmed that the blast took place after the Friday prayers, which could explain the larger number of casualties, as it was a time of high attendance. Geo News highlighted that this incident occurred on the last Friday prayer before Ramadan, leading to increased attendance at the madrasa.

Emergency services have already rescued 1,122 people, as per reports from The Times of India citing AP. The madrasa is located within the premises of a mosque, and many students had been scheduled to begin their vacations on the day of the explosion.

Rescue workers have reached the site, and police have begun investigating the attack. An official statement from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department revealed that a state of emergency has been declared at all hospitals in Peshawar to handle the influx of casualties.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has strongly condemned the incident and ordered authorities to submit a report on the blast immediately.

END/MSS/AJ