A suicide bomber exploded himself during Zuhr prayers at a mosque inside Police Lines in Peshawar on Monday, martyring 59 worshippers and injuring more than 158 others including policemen, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Lady Reading Hospital spokesman Muhammad Asim Khan said: "We are receiving more dead bodies, so far we have received 59 dead bodies and more than 158 wounded."

"I am here at the scene and rescue work is ongoing," said Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Shafiullah Khan. "More bodies are being taken out. Currently, our priority is to save people buried under the debris."

Twenty-seven of the dead people were said to be policemen. The mosque's prayer leader was also among the killed persons.

While confirming the blast was a suicide hit, security officials said the bomber was standing in the first row while the Zuhr prayers were being offered. He then exploded himself during the prayers. The explosion was so huge that it completely levelled a section of the mosque and damaged other parts.

Journalists at the scene saw rescue workers carry two dead bodies away in an ambulance. Part of the mosque roof and wall structure had collapsed, and bloodied survivors were limping away from the wreckage.

https://twitter.com/Oldpeshawar/status/1619992472553406465

"We have received dead bodies. It's an emergency situation," said Muhammad Asim Khan, a spokesman for Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, adding that at least 50 wounded had so far arrived at the facility.

Last March, an Islamic State suicide bomber attacked a minority Shiite mosque in Peshawar killing 64 in Pakistan's deadliest terror attack since 2018.

The blast was so powerful that its noise was heard miles away. 

Sources said that after the explosion, the rescue officials and law personnel rushed to the venue.

The rescue officials are shifting the injured to the local hospital. 

The security forces have surrounded the entire area after the explosion. 

According to sources, the bomb went off inside the mosque at the time when the Zohr prayers were being offered there. 

The explosion was so powerful that one part of the mosque was caved in. 

The law personnel were trying to understand the nature of the blast. 

Caretaker Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Muhammad Azam Khan has directed to expedite rescue activities to save lives of the injured.

 He directed the authorities to emergency steps for shifting the injured to the hospital immediately.

Azam Khan also directed the health authorities to ensure provision of best medical treatment to the injured.

Reporter Amir Shahzad