Police and train station workers stand near the site of a bomb attack at a train station in Chennai on May 1, 2014
Two blasts ripped through a train after it arrived at the Chennai Central railway station this morning, killing a young woman and injuring 14 others. DMK chief M Karunanidhi has alleged that Pakistan's ISI has a hand in the blasts.
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The twin explosions took place in two sleeper coaches 10 minutes after the Guwahati - Bangalore Express pulled into the train station. (First pics: Blasts at Chennai railway station)
One of the blasts took place below the seat of a 24-year-old woman, Swati, who was killed immediately, said officials. An employee of Tata Consultancy Services, Swati was traveling from Bangalore in Karnataka to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. (2 Blasts on Train at Chennai Central Railway Station, Woman Dead)
Nobody has been arrested or detained so far, said the Tamil Nadu police. (Jayalalithaa Condemns Twin Bomb Blast on Train)
Slamming Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, M Karunanidhi said, "Had the arrested ISI operative Zahir Hussein been questioned, the blasts could have been averted."
The man called Zahir Hussein was arrested on Tuesday in Chennai. He has been accused of conducting recces as part of a conspiracy to attack foreign missions in southern India.
The National Investigation Agency, which usually looks into terror attacks, has sent representatives to collect and examine evidence
The train had left Guwahati on Tuesday and was headed to Bangalore. It was running about two hours late. The Tamil Nadu police says that because the train was delayed, it suspects that Chennai was not the target.
Railways Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said two passengers have been badly hurt and 12 others have minor injuries. Bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs are patrolling the station.
Tamil Nadu's most senior police officer K Ramanujam said, "It is not a major blast". He added, "It is premature to say what kind of device was used is the blast. Damage to the train is not heavy."
The train left Chennai at 12.15 pm to complete its journey after an extensive search. Three damaged coaches have been replaced, PTI reported.
Bangalore helpline: 080 22876288; Chennai helpline: 044 25357398.
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