HANGU - At least 40 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in a suicide attack on a traditional tribal jirga in village Khadezai at Ghaljoo Tehsil of Orakzai Agency on Friday afternoon. The local officials and tribesmen were apprehending further increase in the number of casualties as the condition of several people was stated to be precarious. A suicide bomber blew himself up with explosives when a traditional jirga of Ali Khel tribesmen was in progress at village Khadezai. About 500 to 600 elders from different villages and hamlets were participating in the jirga. The body organs of leading and highly respectable elders as well as  youths were scattered in the area soon after the suicide attack. Most of the participants were affected by the explosion. A large number of tribesmen from surrounding areas rushed to the site and initiated the rescue activities. The local tribesmen after hectic efforts succeeded in shifting the  bodies and injured people to the civil hospital in Ghaljoo town, adjacent to Zargari area of Hangu District. However, due to lack of proper medical facilities, doctors and paramedics, a number of wounded persons succumbed to their injuries before getting first-aid. Later, volunteers and rescue teams from Hangu and Kalaya rushed to the affected area. A number of injured were shifted to Hangu, Kohat and Peshawar hospitals. The doctors also apprehended increase in the death toll due to serious condition of several injured. The jirga of Ali Khel tribesmen was convened for deciding ways and means to combat the activities of Taliban militants and to ensure peace and tranquillity in the area. The elders had already agreed on the constitution of the traditional tribal Lashkar against Taliban militants. It may be mentioned here that Ferozkhel and other tribes from Aurakzai Agency had already imposed ban on the activities of Taliban militants in the area. These tribal groups constituted Lashkars against Taliban militants. However, Ali Khel tribesmen who dominate the border regions of Aurakzai, have now initiated efforts in this respect. This part of Aurakzai remained as the stronghold of Taliban for the last two years and a "sanctuary" for terrorist acts both in Hangu District and also in tribal regions of Aurakzai, Kurram and Dara Adam Khel. So far no one has claimed the responsibility for this suicide attack against the traditional tribal jirga.