KARACHI, Oct 3: An improvised explosive device (IED) planted under a bus of an upcountry route standing at its terminal near Banaras went off partially damaging the vehicle early on Wednesday, officials said.

They said that the bomb planted under the 72-seater vehicle parked at the Shahid Coach bus terminal exploded at around 7.45am and caused panic and fear among the people at the area.

The vehicle’s glasses and parts of its body were damaged, though it mostly remained intact.

“The bus bearing registration number C-2352 used to travel between Karachi and Swat,” said Inspector Rao Rafiq, the SHO of the Site-A police station.

“Bomb disposal squad [BDS] officials examined the site and collected evidence. The explosion did not cause any injury to anyone and we believe that it is only carried out to harass certain people.”

A BDS official said the explosion was carried out through a Russian-made Arges-69 bomb and small metal balls were added to intensify the damage. The bomb carried 65-grams of explosive material and it affected an area within a 30-metre radius, he added.

“We have spoken to route operator Gul Hasan who denied any personal enmity or any threat. The incident, however, seems to be linked with some extortion racket, though no one has been identified in this connection. An FIR [510/2012] has been registered under Sections 3/4 of the Explosive Substance Act and 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act on the complaint of the route operator,” said the Site-A police station SHO.