Islamabad: Five persons were today (Dec 27, 2003) killed in explosions triggered by fire crackers stored in a flourmill storehouse in a congested business area of Pakistan's garrison town of Rawalpindi.

The explosions took place when a truck hit an electric pole, which crashed into the godown and sparks from the pole set ablaze firecrackers stored there, local television networks said quoting Rawalpindi town officials.

The blast caused panic in the town where only two days ago President Pervez Musharraf survived an assassination bid.

The blasts were caused by firecrackers and not terrorists, the officials said.