Explosion in Varanasi
A baby girl, 18 months old, has been killed and at least 25 people have been injured in a blast on the ghats of Varanasi; four are reported to be in critical condition. A railing collapsed in a stampede that followed the blast, contributing to the injuries.
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A baby girl, 18 months old, has been killed and at least 25 people have been injured in a blast on the ghats of Varanasi; four are reported to be in critical condition. A railing collapsed in a stampede that followed the blast, contributing to the injuries.
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The girl identified as Swastika Sharma, who was with her mother for the prayers, died at Marwari hospital after the blast, according to IG(Varanasi) R P Singh. It was not immediately known whether she suffered injuries in the explosion or in the stampede.
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Terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) claimed responsibility for the blast in e-mails sent to media houses and said it "attributed" the attack to the demolition of Babri Masjid in 1992. But Home Minister P Chidambaram said that the authenticity of the email purportedly sent by Indian Mujahideen is being verified.
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The Union Home Ministry has sounded a nationwide alert with special stress on four major cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad - in wake of the blast in Varanasi. "A general alert has been sent to all state governments and they have been asked to stay on high alert," Union Home Secretary G K Pillai said here.
