An explosion destroyed a car on the Jammu-Srinagar highway in Jammu and Kashmir's Banihal district on Saturday, sparking panic and slightly damaging one of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicles moving as part of a convoy, authorities said.

The police said the explosion occurred inside a private car in Tethar area around 10.30 am. "The explosion appears to have been caused by a gas cylinder inside the car, but this is based on preliminary examination of the car's wreckage," police said.