A bomb went off near a programme venue of Nepali Congress at Purano Kawasoti Bazaar in Nawalparsi district on Thursday.

The bomb exploded while Amrit Shrestha, a ward chairman candidate from the NC, was addressing the programme at Kawasoti Municipality ward-3.

Locals were left panic stricken and forced to flee the venue following the incident that occurred at around 6:30 pm today.