BANNU(Khyber Point) A Basic Health Unit (BHU) in the Baka Khel area of Bannu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was completely destroyed after an explosive device detonated late Wednesday night, police and local sources confirmed. The incident marks yet another act of sabotage in the volatile region, sparking renewed concerns over security and the safety of public facilities.
According to police reports, unidentified assailants planted explosives inside the BHU building, triggering a powerful blast that reduced much of the structure to rubble. The explosion was heard several kilometers away, sending shockwaves through the community. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as the facility was unoccupied at the time of the explosion.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and confusion immediately after the blast, as residents rushed out of their homes fearing further explosions. “The ground shook like an earthquake,” one local resident told reporters. “We were terrified because it happened so suddenly in the middle of the night.”
Following the explosion, security forces swiftly cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to trace those responsible. Bomb disposal units and forensic teams were also dispatched to the scene to collect evidence and determine the nature of the explosives used. Initial findings suggest that a significant quantity of high-grade explosive material was employed in the attack.
Police officials have termed the incident a “deliberate act of sabotage” aimed at spreading fear and destabilizing the region. “Such attacks on public service facilities are an attempt to undermine the state’s efforts to provide essential services in remote areas,” a senior police officer told Khyber Point.
The Baka Khel region, located on the fringes of North Waziristan, has seen periodic militant activity in recent years, despite several security operations aimed at restoring peace. Authorities fear that sleeper cells of extremist groups may still be active in the area, targeting government installations and infrastructure.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. However, local security agencies believe it could be part of a broader campaign to intimidate health workers and disrupt development projects in tribal and semi-tribal regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Residents have demanded increased security for schools, clinics, and other public facilities, urging the provincial government to take swift measures to prevent such attacks in the future.
