KABUL, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-four civilians were killed and 42 others wounded after a car bomb struck a minibus carrying government employees in western Kabul in Afghanistan on Monday, sources and witnesses said.

"A terrorist driving a saloon car rammed his vehicle to a minibus carrying workers of Ministry of Mines and Industries in Gola-e-Dawakhana locality, Police District 3, roughly at 6:50 a.m. local time (0220 GMT), causing the causalities," witness Abdul Jalil told Xinhua.

Hours after the blast, Afghan Interior Ministry confirmed in a statement released here that 24 civilians lost their lives and 42 others were wounded.

Out of the casualties, at least 12 killed and several injured were passengers on the targeted bus while several passersby were also killed or wounded due to the blast, according to witnesses.

Several of the wounded persons remained in critical conditions.

Among those killed and injured were several women, the witness added.

Three vehicles and 15 shops were destroyed or severely damaged in the explosion, according to statement of interior ministry.

House of Mohammad Mohaqiq, deputy to Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, a private university and a wedding hall were also located near the site in the populated area.

Taliban militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since late April when the militant group launched its annual offensive in different places of the country, which has claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians.

More than 1,660 civilians were killed and over 3,580 others injured in conflict-related incidents across Afghanistan in the first half of the year, according to a report released by the United Nations mission office in the country.