Child among 2 killed in Patiala blast

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 19

Two persons, including a child, were killed while four other children injured in a blast in a slum area at Baba Vir Singh Dhir Singh colony in Patiala on Monday.

The deceased have been identified as Mumtiaz Ali, 25, and Muhammad Sameer, 2-year-old child. Other children - Babbu, 8, Noor, 6, Sabbu, one-and-half-year-old, and a girl Aafreen, 6, are undergoing treatment at Rajindra hospital.

Deputy Commissioner Kumar Amit, Senior Superintendent of Police S Boopathi and Mayor Sanjeev Sharma Bittu reached the spot and met the family members. A forensic team also reached the spot.

As per an eyewitness, the blast took place around 7.40 am. Surinder Singh Nikku, a neighbour of the deceased, said Mumtiaz, along with the children, was trying to break a metal object out of rags.

Surinder said: “Mumtiaz collects garbage from houses in the city. In the morning, he was trying to break an object while separating the collected items from his brother’s cottage when the blast took place. We pulled them out of the fire, but they later succumbed to the injuries.”

Rahul Kaushal, SHO, Kotwali police station, said: “We have checked the blast site and have collected some discarded items. The forensic team also reached the spot. The reason behind the blast is not known yet. Investigation is going on in the case.”

He said the bodies were handed over to the family members after conducting the post-mortem examination. The police have registered a case under Sections 304-A (causing death by negligence) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of the IPC.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Kumar Amit said: “The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each for the families of the deceased and Rs 25,000 each for families of the injured.”

He said Sub-Divisional Magistrate Anmol Singh Dhaliwal would investigate the matter.

SSP S Boopathi said it was a low-profile blast. “The exact cause of the blast is not known yet. The forensic team is investigating the matter. A number of theories came to the fore, including that the garbage was collected from the Army area,” Boopathi said.