Tragic Blast Injures Seven Children in Bihar

Seven children were injured, three seriously, in an explosion near a garbage dump in Bhagalpur district, Bihar. The blast occurred in Khilafat Nagar. Children were admitted to a hospital. Forensic experts and an SIT are investigating the incident to determine the nature and source of the explosive.

Seven children were injured, three of them seriously, in an explosion near a garbage dump in Bihar's Bhagalpur district on Tuesday, a senior police officer said.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Bhagalpur, Anand Kumar told PTI that the blast took place in Khilafat Nagar locality, under the jurisdiction of Habibpur police station, and the children seemed to have inadvertently fiddled with an explosive substance.

'Seven children, three of them seriously, were injured in the incident. All of them have been admitted to the nearest government hospital,' he said.

The incident took place around noon, prompting forensic experts and a dog squad to reach the spot to defuse any additional explosives and identify the nature of the blast. Investigators have collected crucial exhibits from the scene for scientific examination, said the SSP.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to further probe the matter. 'Officials are trying to determine the nature of the explosive material found at the site, whether it was a country-made bomb or a firecracker. Crucial evidence is being collected from the spot, with senior officials present at the site,' the SSP added.

Speaking to reporters, Pankaj Kumar, Station House Officer of Habibpur police station, mentioned, 'The injured children are providing two different versions of the event. Some said a bomb was planted there and exploded while they were playing, while others stated that a person threw a bomb-like object that exploded.' All injured children are out of danger, the SHO added.

(With inputs from agencies.)