New Delhi, Sept 28 (ANI): The death toll in Saturday's bomb blast in the Mehrauli flower market in south Delhi rose to three with one more person succumbing to his injuries this morning.
An unidentified man admitted to the All India Institute of Medical (AIIMS) died this morning, hospital sources said.
Police said at least 22 people were injured in the explosion, which came exactly two weeks after the national capital was rocked by serial blasts killing 24 people and maimed close to 100. The Delhi Police sounded high alert and launched an extensive checking of vehicles in the capital a day after the blast.
But the explosives used in this blast were very different from what was used in the earlier blasts. So intelligence agencies are wary of pining the blame on any one group yet.
Riding a black motorcycle, two men in black dress and wearing helmets, dropped a black polythene bag containing a tiffin box in the flower market at about 2.15 p.m. on Saturday.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), H S Dhaliwal, told reporters that a 13-year-old boy, Santosh Kumar, picked it up to give it back to the bikers. They refused and fled the place but the boy was still keen on giving it to them when it exploded killing him on the spot
A 60-year-old unidentified man, whose cervical was badly fractured, succumbed to his injury at the AIIMS later in the evening.
According to sources, six among the injured are in critical condition. Five of them suffered serious head injuries. The explosive shattered the window panes of several adjacent shops in the market located close to the historic Qutab Minar.
Soon after the explosion, Home Minister Shivraj Patil reviewed the situation with top officials of his Ministry. He visited the AIIMS trauma Centre to inquire about the injured and also visited the blast site.
In a statement after reviewing the situation with the Home Minister, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the Government was committed to bring the culprits to book and stern measures were being taken in this regard and added that there had to be a zero tolerance for acts of terror.
"Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta is in constant touch with Commissioner of Police Delhi. He has also been in touch with the authorities at AIIMS where the injured are admitted," said the Home Ministry spokesman in a statement immediately after the blast.
Some measures were taken recently to beef up security in Delhi. Further action as necessary would be taken. The blast is condemnable. We appeal to people to remain calm, the statement added.
On asked about on Saturday's blast having any connection with the previous blasts, the Home Secretary cautioned against any speculation and added that investigation is in progress.
After visiting the injured in the hospital last evening, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit announced an ex-gratia of five lakh rupees for the next of kin of those killed and 50 thousand rupees for each of the injured.
Security has been beefed up at important places in Mumbai, including railway stations on Central, Western, Harbour Lines, and places of worship and at the Chennai airport following the blast. (ANI)
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