Devastating Blast Obliterates Government School in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Bannu
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Islamabad, March 26 (NationPress) An explosion in Ghora village, located in Bannu city, has resulted in the complete destruction of a government school in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to local media reports.
The blast was triggered by unidentified attackers who planted explosives at the Government Primary School Noor Jan Baka Khel in Ghora village, as reported by the prominent daily Dawn. The school's structure was utterly obliterated in the incident.
Police sources indicated that militants were allegedly inside the school, reportedly assembling an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) when the explosion occurred, though this claim has not been officially verified.
A police representative stated that there were warnings about a potential suicide attacker, with Bannu Police Lines considered a likely target. Consequently, Bannu Police Lines Road has been closed to all traffic, and security measures have been heightened throughout the city to prevent any further incidents.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has seen a significant increase in targeted attacks over the past year. The Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in its annual report noted a rise in violence, with fatalities soaring from 1,620 in 2024 to 2,331 in 2025.
In a related incident last week, an assistant sub-inspector of the Elite Force was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in the Mano Banda area of Gandigar, located in Upper Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Police reported that Bacha Yousaf Khan was targeted outside his home and was rushed to the hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Sources revealed that Khan was on his way to the mosque for prayers when he fell victim to the attack, according to Dawn.
On March 13, at least seven police officers lost their lives in a blast near a police vehicle in the Bettani tribal area of Lakki Marwat district. A police spokesperson confirmed that the explosion occurred close to a police mobile unit, resulting in the deaths of six officers and injuries to one, who subsequently died during treatment at the hospital.