Thursday, April 7 2005 14:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Salamabad (JK): Nineteen passengers on way to Muzaffarabad in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) from Srinagar arrived in Salamabad on board two buses.

Two of the 21 passengers, who had boarded the historic bus in Srinagar, had got down at Panthachowk citing health reasons, a senior police official in Salamabad said.

Pakistan Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti accompanied the passengers who will be proceeding to Kaman post, the last point on the Indian side of the LoC, after having lunch. They will then cross the Aman bridge on foot to PoK.

Earlier a powerful blast rocked Pattan, about 27 km from Srinagar, minutes after the bus carrying the Muzaffarabad-bound passengers passed the town in Baramulla district.

The blast, caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), took place inside a closed shop at Pattan Bazar, along the road around 12:25 hrs (IST), barely 10 minutes after the bus had left the North Kashmir town, the sources said, adding no one was hurt in the explosion.

Several firing shots were also heard after the blast, they said, adding it was believed that the firing was resorted to by security personnel dotting the highway to foil plans by militants to target the vehicle.