At least 24 people were killed and 22 others injured in a suicide blast that took place Saturday morning in Pakistan’s northwest tribal area of Bajaur Agency, reported local English TV channel Express.

According to the Express report, the blast occurred at about 8: 40 a.m. when a suicide bomber blew himself up among the large crowds of people gathering at a checkpoint in front of the office of the World Food Program near Civil Colony in Khar, the main city in Bajaur Agency.

An estimated 1,100 to 1,500 people were gathering at the check point, waiting for the food tokens to be distributed by the World Food Program office, said the report.

Hospital sources said many of the injured were in critical condition and the death toll could further rise.