Blast damages government building in Indian-controlled Kashmir

A government building was partially damaged in a blast Wednesday close to line-of-control (LoC) in Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said.

The blast took place in the Mendhar Tehsi of frontier Poonch district, about 180 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

"The explosion occurred around 1:15 a.m. today in the building of a senior revenue official in Balakote area of Poonch," an official said.

"It is believed that the explosive device was planted by some suspected persons."

No one was present inside the building at the time of blast.

Reports said the blast has damaged the rooftop of the building and caused cracks in the walls.

Police officials have been dispatched to the area to carry out investigation.

LoC is a defacto border that divides Kashmir into India and Pakistan controlled parts.

A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. The gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.