Blast in Asom ahead of National Games

Guwahati, Feb 9 (UNI) Hours before the inauguration of the 33rd National Games, a powerful bomb exploded on a railway platform at Kamakhya Station on the outskirts of the city this morning.

According to the railway authorities, the bomb had damaged the railway platform. However, no casualty had been reported.

The railway and intelligence authorities were alerted by some unidentified sources about a bomb planted between the Guwahati and Rangia railway station.

Intelligence sources also had the information about a blast before the beginning of the National Games.

The bomb squad had been searching for the bomb since yesterday but it went off this morning, railway sources said.

The ULFA had withdrawn the boycott call against the National Games on Tuesday.

According to the intelligence sources, the bomb was planted before Tuesday and the ULFA cadres had indirectly informed the police about the location of the bomb.

Meanwhile, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil would be arriving at Guwahati within a couple of hours from now.

Ms Gandhi would inaugurate the Games and Mr Patil would review the law and order situation in this regard.

UNI