Delhi Blast Near CRPF School Sparks Panic Amidst Festival High Alert

New Delhi, 21st October 2024: Amidst the conspiracy to overturn trains at many places in the country and threats of bomb explosions in schools, hospitals, and planes, now an attempt has been made to spread terror by a powerful bomb blast in the national capital. Amidst the high alert in Delhi given the festivals, a loud explosion near the wall of CRPF school in Prashant Vihar of Rohini Sector 14 on Sunday (20th October) morning spread terror in Delhi.

The entire incident of the blast was captured in the CCTV camera installed in a shop on the other side of the road. The footage shows that at 7.45 am people were travelling in vehicles on the road in front of the school. Then first a spark arose near the school wall, and then a loud explosion took place. After this smoke spread all around.

The blast was so powerful that its sound was heard up to three-four kilometres away and white smoke continued to spread in the air for about 20 minutes. The glass panes of many nearby shops, offices, and cars were shattered due to the blast.

The school wall was damaged and a pungent smell lingered in the air for a long time. Fortunately, the school was closed as it was Sunday and there were no people around the wall at 7.45 am, hence, no casualties were reported.

Investigative agencies are looking at this as an attempt to spread panic during the festivals. A case has been registered at Prashant Vihar police station under sections of the BNS and the Explosives Act. The case can be handed over to the Special Cell or the NIA. The Home Ministry sought a report from the Delhi Police, on which a preliminary report has been sent to it.

As soon as the information about the blast was received, the local police, as well as Delhi Police’s Crime Branch, Special Cell and Cyber Wing, Forensic Lab teams, NDRF, Fire Brigade, CAT Ambulance, Dog Squad, and Bomb Disposal Squad, reached the spot. NSG and NIA teams were also called in after it was found that explosives were used in the blast.

The NSG arrived with a robotic machine and a sniper dog. These dogs have a better sniffing ability than other dogs. Experts from the central agencies stayed at the spot for five hours and collected white powder, some wire-like things, and other samples from there and took them to an empty place nearby and examined them.

An officer of the Special Cell says that the timer, detonator, battery, clock, etc. have not been found on the spot. Chemicals have been used in the blast. Initial investigation has revealed the use of nitrate, chloride, and potassium in the blast, which are not considered high-grade explosives.

“It does not look like a Desi or crude bomb, because crude bombs use glass, nails and shrapnel, etc. Nothing radioactive was found in the investigation.” According to the officer, the investigating agencies are also investigating this blast in connection with the threats of bomb blasts in schools, hospitals, and planes, hence the cyber wing of Delhi Police has also been included in the investigation.

Rohini district DCP Amit Goyal said that it is not yet clear what type of explosion it was. The expert team is conducting a detailed investigation of the incident. The situation will be clear soon. It is worth mentioning that a similar explosion occurred behind the Israeli Embassy on 26th December last year.

This is the second blast of the same kind in 10 months. Meanwhile, attempts have been made to block railway tracks and overturn trains at many places in the country, and emails threatening bomb blasts in schools and hospitals have been received in many parts of the country including the capital. For the last few days, threats have also been made to blow up planes, due to which air services are being affected.

There is a famous Puri-Sabzi shop just 50 meters away from the spot. The shop opens at 6 am. At the time of the blast, about 10 to 12 people had parked their cars and were enjoying Puri-Sabzi near the shop. The shopkeeper and his eight to ten employees were also there when a massive blast occurred. The CCTV cameras installed in the shops fell while some changed their direction due to the blast.