Srinagar: Ten persons were injured, one of them critically, in a powerful grenade explosion triggered by unidentified militants at the busy business centre of Lal Chowk today (Nov 27).

The grenade was lobbed by militants on Border Security Force (BSF) picket at Amirakadal Bridge around 12.30 hrs (IST), but the device missed the intended target and exploded on the road, causing splinter injuries to 10 pedestrians, official sources said.

Condition of one of the injured persons identified as Ranbir Singh, who was running a watch repairing shop adjacent to the picket, was stated to be critical, the sources said.

The whole area was cordoned off and further details are being awaited, the sources said.

Six of the injured were discharged after first aid and rest were admitted in the hospital and their condition was stated to be stable, the sources said.

Those admitted in the hospital include Mishra Lal, Ghulam Mohammad Rah of Batmaloo and Khursheed Ahmad and Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, both residents of Amirakadal, the sources said.

The sources said the blast did not cause any panic among the people present in the busy business centre, as children were bursting crackers during Eid-ul-Fitr celebration.

However, BSF personnel deployed in the area immediately cordoned off the entire area and conducted a thorough search. None was arrested during the operation as the ultras had fled from the scene, the sources said.

No militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the explosion so far, they said.

The sources said security has been further beefed up in the city following the attack.

PTI