At least four persons were killed and 16 injured when a powerful bomb exploded inside a bus at the main bus stand in Rajouri in Jammu region on Thursday morning.

Police said the Jammu-bound bus was completely destroyed in the fire caused by the massive explosion.

Sources said four bodies have so far been recovered from the mangled heap of iron and steel that the bus has been reduced to.
 
The bodies were charred beyond recognition, a police official said.

Five of the injured are also stated to be in critical condition.

Senior police officers have reached the blast spot.

This is the second blast in Rajouri town in the past two days. On Tuesday a powerful improvised explosive device planted inside a radio set had exploded outside a shop killing two persons, including the shop's owner.

No group has yet admitted responsibility for Thursday's blast.

Angry mobs gathered near the blast site and pelted stones on the police.