At least 19 people, ten of them from Afghanistan’s Sikh community, were killed and around 20 others wounded in a suicide bombing in Jalalabad city on Sunday, public health officials confirm.

The group of Sikhs were on their way to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani who is on a tour of the province when the explosion happened.

Provincial governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed the casualties and said it had been a suicide bombing.

Khogyani did not provide more information about the blast

The explosion, in PD1, rocked the city at about 4pm local time.

Unconfirmed reports indicate the explosion happened close to the governor’s compound.

Security forces immediately cordoned off the area and ambulances were seen carrying the victims to hospital.

In footage taken by a TOLOnews journalist at the scene at least one car was gutted after catching fire.

This bombing coincided with President Ashraf Ghani's two-day trip to Nangarhar.

Ghani on Sunday attended the inauguration of a new hospital complex in Jalalabad and also met with local officials.

The president is only due to leave the province on Monday.