At least 40 paramilitary police have been killed in a suicide attack in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir.

Police said dozens of others were injured in the attack on a convoy of vehicles carrying personnel from the Indian Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

Thirteen of the injured are believed to be in critical condition.

Police said an SUV loaded with around 350kg of explosives rammed into a bus carrying 39 people at around 3:15pm.

The bus was part of a 70 vehicle convoy carrying more than 2,500 security services personnel.

Indian army troopers stand guard near the site of a suicide attack in the Indian-administered region of Kashmir, 14-02-2019. Image: Xinhua/Javed Dar

Swayam Prakash Pani, Kashmir Inspector General of Police said: We are investigating the nature of the explosion.

"There has been a number of casualties and the injured have been taken to hospital.

"We are combing the site and we are investigating the bomb attack."

Pakistan-based terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad has claimed responsibility for the attack.

In a tweet, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “I strongly condemn this dastardly attack.”

Attack on CRPF personnel in Pulwama is despicable. I strongly condemn this dastardly attack. The sacrifices of our brave security personnel shall not go in vain. The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of the brave martyrs. May the injured recover quickly.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 14, 2019

Both India and Pakistan claim all of Muslim-majority Kashmir but only control parts of it.

Today’s militant attack was the deadliest against Indian forces in the region since the insurgency against Indian rule began nearly 30 years ago.