16 injured in Paktika blast in critical condition

KABUL (Pajhwok): The death toll from Sunday’s suicide attack in southeastern Paktika province may climb further because some 16 injured people are said to be in critical condition.

A suicide bomber walked to a huge crowd watching the final match of an inter-district volleyball tournament in the Yahyakhel district on Sunday afternoon and detonated his explosives as he approached a police commander, killing 62 people and injuring more than 77.

So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack — the deadliest since 2001. The incident drew strong commendation from President Ghani and CEO Abdullah Abdullah, NATO forces, lawmakers and common people.

Of the injured, 54 were brought to Mohammad Daud Khan Hospital in Kabul by Defence Ministry’s helicopters the same night.

The hospital director, Brig. Gen. Syed Abbas Mangal, told Pajhwok Afghan News on Tuesday that they had been delivered 54 injured people and 33 of them underwent major surgeries.

He said so far two wounded persons had succumbed to their wounds in the hospital and another 16 with gravious injuries remained in critical condition.

He said six more injured persons remained in coma and the rest of the injured were recovering. “I have seen many injured persons over the past years, but it was for the first time I saw deep injuries caused by small ball bearings.”

He said most of the injured had sustained internal injuries and they were trying to heal those wounds. The injured included 17 children and 37 adults, he said, adding some injured were being attended by their relatives and others lacked company of their kin.

Sala Ban, a white-bearded man, who had come to the hospital with injured relatives, told Pajhwok Afghan News five children from his uncle’s family aged between five and nine years old had been killed in the suicide attack.

He thanked the government, lawmakers and other government officials for frequently visiting the hospital and assisting the injured.

He said a lawmaker had promised that six seriously injured persons would be taken abroad for treatment, but he did not name the lawmaker.

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