New Delhi: One person was killed and nine others got injured in twin explosions on a train at the Chennai central railway station this morning.
One woman passenger travelling from Bangalore to Vijayawada was killed. She was identified as 22-year-old Swati, who was slated to go further to Guntur.
The injured have been shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi hospital near the station.
Tamil Nadu DGP K Ramanujam said the investigation will be taken up by a Special Investigation Team after the Railway Police registers the case.
“It is not a major blast. It is suspected that Chennai could not have been target of those who were behind the blast because the train was running late. Some other location could have been the target,” Ramanujam said.
“It is premature to say what kind of device was used is the blast. Damage to the train is not heavy,” he added.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed the blasts and sought a report from the Tamil Nadu government.
Railway Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge, expressing shock over the incident, announced Rs one lakh ex-gratia to the family of the woman killed in the explosion. He said Rs 25,000 will be given to those seriously injured and Rs 5,000 to those with minor injuries.
Kharge said the Railway will bear the entire treatment expenses of the injured.
Commissioner Railway Safety (southern circle) S K Mittal will conduct an inquriy into the incident, Railway Spokesperson Anil Saxena said.
Kharge said Railway authorities have detached the two coaches damaged in the blasts and replaced them to enable the train to proceed on its onward journey.
Train services at the station were expected to be resumed by 1100 hrs, he said.
“Affected coaches will be detached and two new coaches will be attached to the train,” said Anil Saxena, Railway spokesperson.
A team of National Security Guard and explosive experts is likely to be sent to Chennai to join in the investigation into the blast.
NIA team from Hyderabad is being rushed to the blast site, official sources said.
Condemning the blasts, DMK MP T K S Elangovan said, “This will create fear in the minds of the passengers… so it is on police to take precautionary steps and see such things don’t happen in the future”.
Meanwhile, security at the railway station, where thousands of people arrive and depart daily, has been further stepped up and all inbound and out-bound trains were being subjected to extensive check.
Baggage screening procedures have been further scaled up, Railway sources said. As a precautionary measure, police have stepped up security at the airport here.
Southern Railway has set up a helpline to provide information to the public. The helpline number is 044-64502416 and 044-253 57398.
