Women and children were among the deceased, sources said, adding that three people were critically injured in the attack.

According to the sources, the deaths occurred when a rocket, fired from an unknown direction, struck the house, immediately followed by gunfire.

The blast was so powerful that it caused the walls of the house to collapse, trapping those inside under the rubble.

Area residents launched rescue efforts and shifted the injured and deceased to nearby hospitals.

Later, heavy contingents of law enforcement personnel arrived at the sceneand cordoned off the area.

They have launched a search operation to arrest the culprits involved in the attack.

Authorities have yet to comment on the motive or identify the perpetrators.