Low-intensity blast in private bus in Fatehabad, 3 injured
After few days of a low-intensity blast in a Haryana roadways bus in Panipat, yet another such blast came to light on Tuesday morning on Bhuna-Fatehabad road, about 4 km away from Bhuna town of Fatehabad district.
At least three people were injured on Tuesday in a low-intensity blast on a private bus in Haryana’s Fatehabad district, the second such incident in the state in two weeks, police said.
The private bus, belonging to Bhuna Friends Cooperative Society, left from Jakhal at 10am for Fatehabad.
“The explosion in the bus occurred at about 10.42am on Bhuna-Fatehabad road. In the incident, Bhagirath (about 45) and his wife Rajbala (40), have received burnt injuries, who have been shifted to a hospital and are now out of danger,” inspector general of police (Hisar range) OP Singh said.
“We have found a black bag and a preliminary examination by authorities has revealed the use of a sulphur-like substance, which is commonly used in crackers,” he said.
The IGP added that senior police officers along with bomb disposal squad and crime scene team have reached the spot and started an investigation into the matter.
Asked if the explosion bears any similarity to the earlier incident, Fatehabad superintendent of police OP Narwal said, “At this stage, we cannot comment on that. Investigations are on.”
He said according to preliminary reports it appears that someone was carrying a chemical powder which caught fire either because of smoking or some other reason.
“It could be possible that some farmer was carrying the chemical powder, which is used in agricultural fields to scare away birds by causing an explosion,” Narwal said.
The SP said no passenger has come forward to claim the chemical substance yet.
Haryana has witnessed three low-intensity blasts this year, two of which occurred in trains in Panipat.
The low-intensity blast on a state-run bus on May 26 took place near Pipli in Kurukshetra when the vehicle was on its way from Sonepat in Haryana to Chandigarh. At least 12 passengers were injured.
On January 16, a bomb blast took place on a passenger train at Panipat railway station. The explosive material was planted in a compartment next to the engine, but there was no casualty.
On May 13, an explosion hit an empty railway coach in Panipat.
(With PTI inputs)