The death toll in the Jamrud mosque blast increased to 56 on Saturday, as the funerals of the victims continued in Ghundai and other villages of Khyber Agency. So far 51 people had been buried. Officials and locals said the death toll had risen to 56 after four of the injured succumbed to their injuries. Around 60 injured were still admitted in various hospitals, where the condition of 20 of them was said to be critical.
Local tribesmen said funerals prayers for 26 victims had been said on Saturday while those of 25 were said late on Friday. The officials said a few bodies had yet to be identified. Jamrud Assistant Political Agent Khalid Mumtaz Kundi told reporters that it was a suicide attack, adding that efforts for netting out militants involved in the terrorist act were underway. The local administration also announced Rs 50,000 as compensation for the heirs of each victim. However, tribal elders were unhappy with “such a meager compensation” and were attempting to contact the president and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor in this regard.
