At least seven people were killed and 15 others injured as a blast hit a market in Lahore, capital city of Pakistan's eastern Punjab Province on Thursday, officials said.

Law Minister Punjab Rana Sanaullah said that the nature of the blast has not been determined yet.

Police, the army and the intelligence agency have reached the blast site and cordoned it off.

The army vacated all the buildings in the market and kicked off a rescue and search operation.

According to initial reports, the blast hit a restaurant, Bombay Chowapatty, which serves Indian food.

The injured have been shifted to General Hospital where a state of emergency has been declared.

A few days ago, the same market was evacuated and snap checked by law enforcement agencies after receiving a bomb threat.

Source:
courtesy of XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

by XinHua News Agency

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