The death toll from the Peshawar mosque blast has risen to 56, with over 194 people wounded.

PESHAWAR : On Friday, the death toll from the catastrophic blast inside a mosque in Peshawar’s Kocha Risaldar district had grown to 56, with another 194 people injured.

Police and rescue crews arrived to the scene, according to reports, and began a rescue effort. The injured were transported to Lady Reading Hospital by the rescue crews, who were assisted by locals and neighbours in carrying the injured in their personal vehicles.

Officials at the Lady Reading Hospital declared a state of emergency after police and security officers cordoned off the area and began collecting evidence.

Meanwhile, CCPO Peshawar stated that the terrorists entered the mosque following a firefight with police personnel, which resulted in the death of one police officer and the injury of another.

“Before he entered the mosque, I observed a guy fire at two police officers. I heard a loud blast a few seconds later “Zahid Khan, a witness to the incident, spoke up.

The blast smashed out the windows of surrounding buildings, and anxious rescuers were seen rushing to evacuate the dead and injured.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has denounced the bombing and urged an investigation into the situation.

The Prime Minister also instructed the appropriate officials to offer immediate first assistance to the victims.

Federal Minister Sheikh Rashid, for the Interior, was alerted about a fatal suicide bombing inside a mosque in Peshawar and requested a report from the chief secretary and Inspector General of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.

The Interior Minister denounced the terrorist assault in a tweet and expressed grief for the deaths of innocent people.

The minister said that he has a weekly meeting to examine internal security matters, but that no such danger alert had been issued.