Blast on train kills 15

Kolkata:At least fifteen persons were killed and around 51 injured in a powerful explosion triggered by suspected extremists in a general compartment of a passenger train when it halted at Belakhoba station in Jalpaiguri district in North Bengal on Monday evening.

Police said ten people instantaneously died in the blast that ripped apart a general compartment of the Haldibari-Siliguri passenger train at 6.30pm. The explosion was so severe that a side and the roof of the bogie were blown away.

Eyewitnesses said there was a flash followed by a deafening explosion. There were two small explosions immediately afterwards. “Some of the passengers jumped out of the coach in panic, while many received burns,” they said.

IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanoria said the bodies were charred beyond recognition and it was feared the toll could go up as several of the injured were in a critical condition in hospital. Around 51 people including 23 children have been injured in the blast.

Home Secretary PR Roy said the explosion was suspected to be the handiwork of North Bengal militants. Asked if he suspected the militant group KLO, which has links with ULFA, he said, “it might be the KLO or the ULFA. We are trying to get details.”

NF Railway sources in Malegaon in Assam, under which the railway division falls, said a medical relief team left Siliguri immediately after receiving information about the blast while another left Guwahati.

No militant group has so far claimed responsibility for the blast.

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