In two back-to-back explosions in the Narwal neighbourhood of Jammu City, believed to be caused by potent sticky explosives set on two cars, at least seven people were hurt, one of them gravely.
The blasts occurred amid a high alert in view of Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ and five days ahead of the Republic Day celebrations.
Seven victims of the explosions are being treated at the hospital, according to a senior physician at the Government Medical College and Hospital. One of them underwent surgery because he had splinter wounds in his stomach and his condition was critical. He identified as Arjun Kumar, a 28-year-old resident of Qasim Nagar.
The doctor informed that six others had suffered minor injuries but they were under severe trauma, for which psychiatrists have been called to treat their post-traumatic stress disorders.
However, additional director general of police Mukesh Singh said, “Six people were injured in twin blasts at Narwal. A blast occurred in a car in which five people in close vicinity were injured. They are all stable and were shifted to hospital. The area was cleared of all the people but then second blast occurred at a distance in which one more person was injured. The matter is being investigated.”
The area is a hub of trucks having shops of tyres, automobile parts, junk dealers and car accessories.
Police officers arrived on the scene quickly after the explosion and cordoned off the area. Shop owners and neighbourhood residents hurried injured people to the hospital. People with vehicles of various types visit the location, which is a centre of commercial activity, throughout the day for repairs and maintenance.