In Bengaluru's bustling Whitefield locality, a devastating explosion shattered the serene atmosphere of a well-known cafe on Friday afternoon, causing injuries to a minimum of nine individuals. Preliminary assessments suggest that the explosion, suspected to be triggered by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), emanated from a bag left unattended within the cafe premises by an unidentified individual, as per statements issued by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah disclosed that surveillance footage captured the unsettling moment when an unidentified person surreptitiously deposited a bag inside the confines of Rameshwaram Cafe.
The Chief Minister elaborated that although the explosive device was not of considerable magnitude, it was meticulously constructed. He recounted, "According to reports, an individual procured a token from the cashier and subsequently abandoned the bag," further affirming that ongoing inquiries are centering on the interactions between the cashier and the unidentified individual.
Initial reports indicate that the detonation ensued around 1 pm, enveloping the cafe and its immediate vicinity in billowing plumes of black smoke. The Director General of Police acknowledged awaiting the forensic team's findings to ascertain the bag's contents.
Here are the latest developments concerning the Bengaluru cafe explosion:
The detonation at the esteemed cafe in Whitefield inflicted injuries upon at least nine individuals, who were promptly transported to various medical facilities for requisite treatment. Among the wounded were two personnel and seven patrons, as affirmed by officials speaking to news agency PTI.
The casualties comprised three cafe staff members and one customer, with one woman, who was seated in proximity to the bag, sustaining severe injuries. She currently receives medical attention in intensive care, according to the Director of Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services department speaking to PTI.
Siddaramaiah recounted being apprised of an individual depositing a bag inside the cafe premises post-noon. "An individual carrying a small bag arrived. The individual's identity remains elusive. Preliminary interrogation of the cashier is underway, given the individual's interaction with the cashier for token issuance and meal consumption," he stated.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar at Brookefield Hospital informed India Today TV about the admission of three wounded individuals, including a woman aged between 40-45 years and two individuals aged 25 years. While the woman's condition remains grave in the ICU, the others are deemed stable, all having incurred eardrum injuries without facing life-threatening complications.
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya echoed the cafe owner's assertion attributing the blast to a bag abandoned by a patron. He commented, "It appears to be a clear-cut case of a bomb blast," underscoring the gravity of the incident.
Expert bomb disposal units and forensic teams presently occupy the scene, spearheading efforts to delineate the precise causative factors behind the explosion. Concurrently, law enforcement authorities have cordoned off the area to facilitate a comprehensive investigation into the tragic occurrence.
Initially, suspicions surrounding a potential gas leak dissipated following the discovery of a small bag at the site. Notably, the bag was found situated behind a female patron among a group of six others, as relayed by an official speaking to PTI.
An eyewitness, Edison, recounted the harrowing episode to PTI, detailing the sudden eruption of a deafening blast while he awaited his turn outside the eatery. He recounted, "We were startled upon hearing a loud noise...an explosion. We were gripped by fear, unsure of its origin. Approximately 35-40 individuals were present at the eatery at the time."
CCTV footage retrieved from Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe delineates the precise moment of the explosion, capturing servers bustling around the counter before the blast inundates the screen with blinding whiteness amid burgeoning smoke plumes.
Among the wounded individuals are Farooq, a 19-year-old hotel staff member; Deepanshu, a 23-year-old employee of Amazon Company; Swarnamba, aged 49, sustaining 40 percent burn injuries; Mohan, aged 41; Nagashree, aged 35; Momi, aged 30; Balaram Krishnan, aged 31; Navya, aged 25; and Srinivas, aged 67.
