Bengaluru: Two people, including a security guard and a labourer, sustained minor injuries in a suspected blast at an under-construction private building near Pulakeshi Nagar in east Bengaluru on Tuesday.
The incident is under investigation, with officials examining whether the explosion was caused by a chemical reaction or involved any improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge told reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday that authorities were awaiting laboratory reports to determine the nature of the incident.
“It is still being investigated. We will get an idea post noon. There has been a blast, that’s all I can tell now. We are awaiting lab reports. Two people sustained minor injuries,” Kharge said.
Forensic teams examine suspicious items
Kharge said investigators were looking into the possibility of a chemical reaction as well as the potential involvement of explosives.
“We are investigating if there is some chemical reaction or whether there were any Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs),” he said.
Forensic investigators reportedly recovered certain suspicious items from the site. These materials were being analysed as part of the investigation.
A senior police officer cautioned against drawing conclusions before the forensic examination was completed, stating that it was premature to declare that IEDs had been found at the location.
The authorities are expected to gain a clearer understanding of the incident after receiving the laboratory findings.
Police register suo motu case
Police have taken up a suo motu case and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the blast.
Investigators are examining the materials recovered from the building and working to establish what caused the explosion. The exact nature of the suspected blast and the circumstances leading to it have not yet been confirmed.
The incident has drawn particular attention as Karnataka is observing Dasara festivities. Sources indicated that authorities were treating the matter seriously given the ongoing celebrations.
Further details are expected after forensic analysis and other investigative procedures establish the cause of the explosion.