One paramilitary trooper of the Border Security Force was killed in a massive car bomb explosion at Omarabad on the Srinagar-Uri national highway Wednesday afternoon.

Twenty-one people, including 16 BSF soldiers were injured in the blast. Police said that militants set off the explosive laden car parked on the road as a BSF vehicle carrying troopers passed on the highway.

The BSF vehicle suffered extensive damage. Sixteen troopers and six civilians injured in the explosion were transferred to hospitals by police. One soldier died in hospital.

The area has been cordoned off and searches mounted.