15 killed in Peshawar bus blast  

PESHAWAR: At least 15 people were killed and more than 27 injured in a blast that occurred in a bus carrying government employees on Wednesday morning, police said.

According to sources the bus was carrying over 50 employees of Civil Secretariat from Mardan to Peshawar.

SSP Operations Abbas Majid Marwat confirmed the death toll, saying it was an improvised explosive device (IED) which was placed under a seat.

Hospital sources said that three females were among the injured taken to hospital. The condition of five injured is said to be critical.

Police and security forces have cordoned off the area.

Bomb disposal squad said over 8 kg explosives were used in the blast.

A hospital official said the death toll was likely to rise.

The 35 wounded were taken to Peshawar´s main Lady Reading Hospital, hospital spokesman Jamil Shah said.

"Emergency has been declared and all doctors have been called in to handle trauma," he said.

Many of the wounded were in critical condition and the death toll could rise, he said.