65 killed in Samjhauta Express blasts : Patil

New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today said 65 people had so far been killed in Samjhauta Express attack early today.

''We have confirmation that 65 people have been killed so far and several injured,'' Mr Patil told reporters after meeting the twelve injured, most of them Pakistani nationals, at the Safdarjung hospital here.

However, officials said the toll has risen to 66.

The Home Minister said the explosives used in the attack were ''high intensity which created extensive damage''.

''Our experts are trying to establish exactly what the kind of explosives were used....,'' he added.

The injured, including a year-old girl child and a nine-year old boy, were brought to the hospital in ambulances from the fire site in Panipat and admitted to the super specialty burns ward of the hospital.

Mr Patil, accompanied by Home Secretary V K Duggal and several senior officials stayed in the burns ward of the hospital for more than 15 minutes and also spoke to the doctors about the treatment to the injured.

He said the best possible treatment will be provided to the injured. ''No effort will be spared to help them,'' he added.

Security has been heightened in and around the hospital where anxious relatives were not allowed to meet the injured.

Two coaches of the Delhi-Attari Samjhauta Express caught fire at Shiva Village under Chandni Bagh police station in Panipat district early today.

The incident occurred at around 0100 hrs, a Northern Railway Spokesman said.

The bogies were separated from the train after the fire was extinguished by fire tenders from the district and the Indian Oil refinery.

After separation of the two bogies, the train, which was going from Delhi to Attari, left for its destination at about 0300 hrs.

UNI