Blast Shakes Bengaluru's Brookfield: Rameshwaram Cafe, Popular Hangout, Targeted; 9 Injured

The Rameshwaram Cafe, a popular dining spot in Bengaluru's Brookfield frequented by celebrities, was rocked by a blast on Friday, 1 March. Reports indicate that four people were injured in the incident. The precise cause of the explosion has yet to be determined.

Initial suspicions of a gas leak causing the blast at the popular city eatery, which injured at least nine people, were dismissed by the fire department on Friday. They stated that a woman's handbag was found at the spot, leading to forensic teams investigating the actual cause of the explosion.

"At 1:08 pm today, the fire department received a call about an LPG leakage fire in the cafe. When our officers and teams arrived, there was no fire or flame. A bag lying behind a woman who was sitting with six other customers at the eatery exploded. It is suspected that the explosion could have been caused by an object in that bag," explained TN Shivashankar, Director of Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services department to PTI.

CCTV footage revealed a damaged pillar inside the cafe, indicating the force of the explosion.

Following the blast, police and fire brigade teams swiftly arrived at the scene to assess the aftermath. The sight of shattered glass and furniture scattered across the cafe floor caught the attention of nearby residents.

Forensic experts have commenced collecting evidence from the explosion site, while a dog squad has also been deployed.

The police and fire brigade secured the area, and the injured were promptly hospitaliSed.

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, addressing the media about the blast at The Rameshwaram Cafe, described it as an improvised blast rather than a high-intensity one. "The CCTV footage is being reviewed; a man was seen placing the bag," he added.

Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, who earlier confirmed the updated toll of nine injured, is headed to the incident site.

The injured individuals include:

• Swaranamata Narayanappa (40%, burns) - Customer
• Farooq Hussain and Dwipanshu (minor injuries) - Restaurant Staff

About Rameshwaram Cafe:

According to The Rameshwaram Cafe's website, it is a premium South Indian chain of QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) modules and is a trademark-registered brand under the mother company M/s. Altran Ventures Pvt. Ltd. Divya Raghavendra Rao is the Founder & Managing Director of the cafe, while Raghavendra Rao is the founder and promoter of IDC Kitchen and heads Operations at The Rameshwaram Cafe.

The cafe is named after former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, who inspired its concept, as Rameshwaram is his birthplace, as per the website.

The cafe has branches in Indiranagar, JP Nagar, Brookfield, Rajajinagar, and one in Madhapur, Hyderabad.