Timer device used in train blast: experts

The blast instead created a three-foot crater below seat numbers 84 and 85. It would appear that a suitcase containing the explosives used to trigger the blasts must have been placed nearby.

The quality of the explosives used would become clear only after an examination of samples in the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL). “It could be both — explosives of high intensity or low intensity. If a bomb is packed with a large quantity of low explosives, it can also do major damage,” Jaunpur SP Abhay Kumar said.

A three-member team of the Agra-based Forensic Science Laboratory today recovered the remnants of a suitcase. However, FSL assistant director Santosh Kumar refused to provide any information about the suitcase.

“It would be premature to say anything here. We have already collected the samples from the damaged coach. We will examine the same in our lab at Agra and submit our report as soon as possible,” Kumar said.

Absence of information about the quality of explosives used has made it difficult for the investigating team to establish the attack motive. “If it is highly explosive, it would be easy for the police to investigate the case as one involving terrorists. But over here improvised crude bombs have been used in the timer,” a Government Rail Police officer associated with the investigation said. It is the second time the Shramjeevi Express has been involved in an accident in Jaunpur district.

Laloo promises rail jobs for the injured

PATNA: Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav has said all those injured in Thursday’s blast inside a compartment of Shramjeevi Express will be provided railway jobs.

He said this at a function to mark the laying of the foundation stone of East Central Railway’s super-speciality central hospital near Patna Junction.

“We will take stricter measures to prevent explosion in trains. We have already launched a drive in this regard,” he said.

He added that all the injured, most of them Bihar “mazdoors”, would be provided employment in the railways as soon as doctors declared them fit.

The Minister said a high-level inquiry would be instituted to probe the blast near Jaunpur station in Uttar Pradesh in which nine people were killed.

He added that he had already announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to the bereaved dependents. This is in addition to Rs 1 lakh being provided by the UP Government.

The request by the dead passengers’ kin for an additional Rs 3 lakh as compensation will be considered.

The Railway Minister said the organisation involved in the blast would soon be unmasked. —PTI