Five people were martyred on Sunday when a remote-controlled bomb went off at a roadside in Bajaur Agency's Loye Mamond area, said officials.

Local Tehsildar Fawad Ali and four Levies personnel lost their lives in the blast, said the political administration.

Ali, along with Levies personnel, was patrolling in Garigal area when his vehicle was targeted with a remote-controlled explosive device, killing him and four Levies personnel on the spot. All the bodies were shifted to the agency headquarters hospital.

The blast took place in the town of Mamoond — some 25 kilometres from Khar, the main town of Bajaur — one of the country's seven semi-autonomous tribal districts where the army has been battling Taliban.

Security forces have cordoned off the blast site and a search operation is being conducted.

Nobody immediately claimed responsibility for the bomb explosion; in the past, however, Taliban militants have carried out several suicide bombings and other attacks in the district.