Bomb explosion in waste dump kills five in Punjab

Patiala, Apr 28 (ANI): At least five people, including two women and a child, were killed when an unused armament shell exploded at a waste dump in Patiala of Punjab on Monday evening.Three people were injured in the blast that took place in the house of rag pickers at Sikri Mohala.

Confirming four deaths, the police said that the rag pickers might have found an old bomb from somewhere, which exploded.

"These are rag-pickers and work as scrap pickers. It seems that they got an old bomb or explosive from somewhere. It went off as they were trying to extract metal from it," said Arpit Shukla, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patiala.

One of the injured persons, identified as Rajesh recalled that they had brought some scrap material, which went off as they tried to extract metal from it.

"We had brought some scrap. We were trying to take out the metal out from it when it suddenly went off," said Rajesh.

The district authorities have announced an ex-gratia of rupees 50,000 for the family of the deceased. The police are investigating further into the matter. (ANI)