An explosion has been reported outside Delhi High Court’s Gate number 5 at 10:15 am. Reports confirm 65 people have been injured while 10 have succumbed to their injuries.
The injured have been rushed to RML, Safdarjung and AIIMS hospitals. Many of them suffered burn injuries. Six of them are said to be critical.
The explosion occurred outside gate No. 5 where 100 to 200 people were waiting in queue to get passes for entry into the court complex. The nature and magnitude of the blast was immediately not known.
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram will make a statement at 12:30 pm. The Union Home secretary R K Singh said initial investigation suggests the bomb was apparently placed in a suitcase. Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 PM to allow the government to collect information and issue a statement on the bomb blast.
Court business is usually heavy on Wednesday which is listed as a Public Interest Litation(PIL) day when the visitors come to the court in large numbers. Gate number 5 is where the passes are made for litigants.
The explosion is said to have taken place right outside the reception. Police control at Gate no. 5 is said to be minimal.
Two fire tenders have rushed to the scene. The police have cordoned off the area.
Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta has rushed to the blast site along with senior officials to take stock of the situation. Teams of National Investigating Agency(NIA), National Security Guards(MSG) and Forensic department have been rushed to the spot.
Delhi Police sources said potassium nitrate is suspected to have been used in the bomb.
With inputs from PTI
