Militants carried out a powerful explosion in south Kashmir late Thursday evening, hours before the arrival of President Kalam on Friday.

A senior police officer said militants lobbed a grenade at a party of paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force in Khudwani village near Kulgam, 74 kms from summer capital in Anantnag district.

"Eleven persons, including two CRPF troopers, a local cop and eight civilians were wounded in the Khudwani explosion and all the injured have since been evacuated for treatment to hospital," a senior police officer said.

He said the area was being searched by the security forces.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the blast.