Kanpur Scooter Blast: Explosion Rocks City Market, 6 Injured, Terror Angle Not Ruled Out | What We Know

Kanpur:

A blast in two scooters rocked Kanpur on Wednesday, injuring at least six people. The explosion occurred at a crowded market, prompting local authorities to rush to the site. The injured were shifted to a nearby hospital and a high-level investigation is underway. The police are probing firecrackers as reason behind the blast also but terror angle has not been ruled out as well.

• Two scooters parked in the congested Mishri Bazar near a mosque exploded seconds apart, injuring half a dozen people and damaging nearby shops, police said.
• The blasts occurred around 7:30 pm in the crowded Moolganj area. The sound of the explosions, which took place near the Markaz mosque, was heard up to 500 metres from the spot.

• Police Commissioner of Kanpur Raghubir Lal told PTI that six people were injured in the blasts that took place in two scooters parked in Mishri Bazar.
• The injured were rushed to hospital. Two of them were discharged after first aid and two are undergoing treatment for burn injuries, he said.

• Lal said the incident is being investigated from all possible angles.
• "Since Diwali is approaching, we are exploring the possibility of a firecracker-related explosion as well," he said, adding that a terror angle is also not being ruled out.
• A bomb disposal squad, forensic experts and anti-sabotage teams are at the spot to comb the site and collect samples.
• Intelligence units have been tasked with analysing CCTV footage from the surrounding area to identify any possible suspects, police said.
• The blast damaged walls of nearby shops. A shopkeeper, Mohammad Uwais said, "We were sitting inside the shop when suddenly there was a loud blast. People were startled and items of shops were scattered all over the road."

Two Killed in UP's Farrukhabad Blast

Earlier on Saturday, at least two people were killed, and five others injured in a blast at a coaching centre in Uttar Pradesh's Farrukhabad. According to the police, the blast occurred likely due to excessive concentrated methane in the septic tank located in the basement."We received information around 3.19 pm pertaining to Kadri Gate Police Station area. Prima facie, it seems to be a coaching institute, and it has a septic tank in the basement. The blast occurred due to excess concentrated methane there. A switchboard was also found there, perhaps the blast occurred due to that. The injured are under treatment. Investigation is being done." Farrukhabad SP Arti Singh told reporters.Farrukhabad DM Ashutosh Kumar Dwivedi said that a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the City Magistrate to investigate the cause of the incident."An explosion took place in the septic tank of a coaching centre. Prima facie, the explosion is being attributed to the non-exhaustion of concentrated methane gas. 2 people have died. Five people are undergoing treatment... A committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the City Magistrate to investigate the cause of the incident...," he added.With inputs from agencies