The Hindu Business Line : 10 killed, 50 injured in Bengal train blast

At least 10 persons were killed and nearly 50 others injured in a powerful blast inside a compartment of the Haldibari-Siliguri Passenger train at the Belacoba station in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district at around 6.20 p.m. on Monday.

The condition of some of those injured was stated to be critical. Unconfirmed reports said the explosion had claimed at least 15 lives.

The Kamtapur Liberation Organisation (KLO), a militant outfit that has been active in north Bengal in the recent past and which has links with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), is suspected to be behind the explosion. This, however, is yet to be officially ascertained.

The KLO has been demanding a separate State of Kamtapur to be carved out of large parts of north Bengal and some districts in neighbouring Assam.

This is for the first time in the State that an explosion of such intensity has occurred, the State's Home Secretary, Mr Prasad Ranjan Roy, said. The death toll could rise, he feared.

Inquiry ordered

Senior police officials have rushed to the spot and the State Government has ordered an inquiry into the incident, Mr Roy said. It is suspected that the bomb causing the explosion had been planted inside the compartment.

Two compartments including the one where the blast occurred were extensively damaged. One of the compartments was to have been attached to the Kolkata-bound Darjeeling Mail scheduled to leave New Jalpaiguri station later in the evening, sources in Jalpaiguri added.

The injured were rushed in vehicles of the local forest division and ambulances to the Jalpaiguri Sadar Hospitals and North Bengal Medical College Hospital.

Special alert

A special alert has been sounded at all major railway stations in the State and vigil inside trains has been intensified, according to a State official.

Train services in north Bengal were disrupted following the blast. Surveillance is being maintained on the highway linking north Bengal to Assam.

More Stories on : Accidents | Terrorism | Railways | West Bengal

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