Pulawama: At least 18 CRPF men injured in a blast followed by gunshots in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulawama

The death toll of CRPF jawans killed in a massive blast in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama rose to 40, several injured. The CRPF convoy was targeted with a car bomb at Awantipora in what is the worst attack in decades on security personnel in the Jammu and Kashmir. All injured have been shifted been to the army base hospital in Srinagar.

As per initial reports vehicle used by the terrorists was a Mahindra Scorpio bearing more than 350 kg of explosives. The mobile internet services have been snapped in the whole of South Kashmir and speed slowed to 2G in Srinagar district.

Home Ministry sources said that Pakistan backed terrorists attacked the car bomb while 78 vehicles with over 2,500 CRPF men were on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.

Pakistan backed Jaish-e-Mohammed claims responsibility for Pulwama IED terror attack, in a text message to Kashmiri News Agency GNS.  "Two buses in the CRPF convoy were targeted in a high-intensity IED blast," reports news agency ANI.

CRPF DG RR Bhatnagar has stated, "Senior officers at the spot, the investigation is underway. Injured being taken care of. There was 2500 personnel in the convoy."

According to reports an improvised explosive device was the cause of the explosion at Goripora area in Awantipora. Gunshots were reported from the area after the blast occurred.