5 killed in explosion in army scrap in Meerut

Meerut/Lucknow, Nov 8 (UNI) At least five people were killed and six wounded, following an explosion at an army scrap dump in Bengali basti slum in Lisari gate area here today.

The victims included four minor rag pickers. The blast occurred when they were searching for metal in the scrap.

Principal Secretary (Home) Fateh Bahadur Singh told UNI that preliminary investigation had suggested that the blast happened as a live explosive was inadvertently left in the scrap.

Categorically denying any terrorist act behind the explosion, he said it was just an accident and there was no reason to panic.

The wounded were rushed to local government hospitals, where condition of some of them was stated critical.

The explosion occurred in the area which has more than 500 hutments and is thickly populated.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IG) Meerut zone Gurdarshan Singh confirmed five casualties and said it was an accident.

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