NSG team visits Mall Road restaurant in Shimla where gas leak apparently led to explosion killing 1, injuring 13
Post Date – 23rd Sunday, July 23rd at 10:10pm
Simla: A National Security Guard (NSG) team visited the Mall Road restaurant in Shimla on Sunday after a gas leak apparently led to an explosion that killed one person and injured 13 others.
The explosion occurred on Tuesday night at the Himachali Rasoi restaurant in Zhongbah, near the fire brigade office in the city centre, which is known for its Himachali cuisine. Police said the explosion was apparently caused by a gas leak.
In addition to the forensic experts who initially collected the samples, a 16-member team from NSG’s National Bomb Data Center (NBDC) inspected the scene, gathered evidence from the blast site, examined evidence gathered by the Special Investigations Team (SIT) investigating the case, and interacted with the injured.
Police chief Sanjay Kundu told the Press Trust of India earlier in the day that the location of the explosion was sensitive because it was close to the police report room. He added that the National Security Group specializes in this area and their service can determine the cause of the explosion according to the government’s standard operating procedure.
Established in 1988, the NBDC is the apex national agency for post-blast investigations (PBI) under the National Security Group.
The statement issued here said that considering the sensitivity of the case and ensuring a thorough and prompt investigation, the Attorney General has asked the Ministry of the Interior’s Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Radicalization Division to add a secretary to entrust the Nuclear Suppliers Group’s PBI team to find out the cause of the explosion.
On July 19, Kundu inspected the scene of the explosion, saying that preliminary investigations and forensic examinations indicated that the explosion was caused by a gas leak.
According to those injured, the explosion was caused by a leak from two LPG cylinders, but more casualties were prevented because the site was closed for maintenance.
Shimla police chief Sanjeev Kumar Gandhi said people near the restaurant complained of a gas leak before the blast.
However, suspicions were raised due to the intensity of the blast, which shattered windows in several nearby shops and houses and could be heard for miles.
The SIT, which investigates the bombing, has registered a case of negligence endangering life, causing injury and death under IPC Sections 336, 337 and 304A.
Meanwhile, BJP media chief Karan Nanda joined other shopkeepers in calling for a high-level investigation into the matter, saying they were confident state security groups would find out the truth about the blast.
