In the first incident of its kind since the eruption of militancy in Jammu and Kashmir [Images], a woman was blown to pieces when the Improvised Explosive Device she was carrying went off in Pulwama district Thursday.

The IED exploded in the compound of the house of one Ghulam [Images] Mohammad Bhat at Awantipora on Srinagar-Jammu national highway at around 11.30 hours killing the burqa-clad woman instantly, a police spokesman said.

The main target of the suicide attack seemed to be the national highway, which is generally crowded with relief convoys heading towards quake-hit areas these days, official sources said.

• Tremors across borders 

Several residential houses, including that of Bhat, a former special secretary in the government, were damaged in the deafening explosion. Four rifle grenades, a hand grenade and Rs 500 were were recovered from the scene.

In a phone call to a local news agency, a person claiming to be a spokesman of Pak-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, a militant outfit, said the woman, whom he identified as Hafsa, had blown up an army vehicle in the attack.

However, official sources said none of the security vehicles were passing through the area when the explosion occurred.