Families of Pune blast victims will receive Rs. 500,000 compensation: Chavan

Pune, Feb 14(ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Sunday announced that the families of victims killed in Saturday's German Bakery blast in Pune will receive a ompensation of Rs. 500,000.

Addressing a press conference in Pune, Chavan said the government will also take care of the entire medical costs for those injured in the blasts.

"Regarding the compensation payment to the dead, the families will be paid Rs. 500,000 per person who has died in the unfortunate incident. And whatever the medical expenditure is for the people who have been admitted in the hospitals will be entirely borne by the government," Chavan said.

The bomb, which killed nine people and wounded at least 57, is seen as the first major attack on India since the 2008 Mumbai massacre and appeared to target Indian and foreign tourists.

The explosion at the German Bakery, located close to the Osho Ashram and Chabad House, a Jewish prayer house, took place at around 7 p.m.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Police Commissioner D. Sivanandan said that the city was on high alert following the attacks in Pune, which is about 180 kilometres away.

"Mumbai police is on alert. On all the important places, Mumbai police is already there keeping vigil," said Sivanandan.

Speaking ahead of a cancer charity run, Sivanandan added that Mumbai had stepped up its efforts in helping the police force of Pune.

"We have sent a very strong Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) team, the ATS chief has gone. We have also sent a forensic team, we have sent our crime branch team. It's a united work we are doing," aid Sivanandan. (ANI)