A low intensity IED triggered by a timer device concealed in a bag left behind by a man is suspected to have caused the blast.
Screengrab of the visuals before and after the blast.
An explosion at an outlet of the popular Rameshwaram cafe in Bengaluru on Friday, 1 March, has sent shockwaves across the state. The cause of the explosion is suspected to be a low intensity Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Fire and emergency service personnel had ruled out the possibility of cylinder blast or gas leak as probable cause earlier in the day. The explosion has injured at least nine people.
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Divya Raghavendra Rao, cofounder and managing director of Rameshwaram Cafe, issued an official statement late on Friday.
In it, she said: "We are deeply saddened by the unfortunate incident at our Brookefield branch today."
Rao added: "We are cooperating with the authorities and officials in their investigations."
She also said: "Our thoughts are with the injured and their families, and we are offering them all the support, assistance, and care they need and pray for their speedy recovery."
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday evening with one of the people injured in the blast.
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Friday evening visited the people injured in the blast.
The police have already confirmed in an official statement that 10 people were injured in the blast.
They added in the statement that the injured included both customers and staff of Rameshwaram Cafe.
Nine people were shifted to hospitals following the blast.
All were safe and out of danger, according to officials.
The Bengaluru City Police confirmed on Friday evening that 10 people — including both customers and staff of Rameshwaram Cafe — had been injured in the blast.
They added that a case had been registered in this regard at the HAL Police Station, under whose jurisdiction Rameshwaram Cafe falls.
The police also said they had invoked sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 1967 — succinctly known as the UAPA — and the Explosive Substances Act.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the police and other agencies are thoroughly probing the incident and the person who planted the bomb was identified.
When a reporter asked whether the government was probing the terror angle of the blast, Shivakumar said: "We are probing all angles."
"The entire Bengaluru has a very good surveillance system. The culprit will caught within a few hours," the deputy chief minister said.
"Further details regarding the incident will be shared by the investigation team in due time," he added.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara visited Rameshwaram Cafe, where the blast occurred, to take stock of the situation.
Nine people were shifted to hospitals following the blast. The injured are identified as Farooq (19), a staff of the eatery, Deepanshu (23), an employee of Amazon, Swarnamba (49), Mohan (41), Nagashree (35), Momi (30), Balaram Krishnan (31), Navya (25), and Srinivas (67).
Three people were shifted to Brookefield Hospital and the rest to Vydehi Hospital.
One among the injured, Swarnamba, suffered 40 percent burns with injuries in her hand and leg. All are safe and out of danger, according to officials.
Officials said that a low-intensity improvised explosive device (IED) was used for the blast. The explosion was triggered with a timer. Battery and nut bolts were used in the device.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah confirmed that the blast was caused due to an improvised explosive device (IED) and assured that strict action would be taken against the perpetrators.
He said that the investigation was going on full swing and urged the Opposition leaders to "not play politics".
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನ ರಾಮೇಶ್ವರಂ ಕೆಫೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದಿರುವ ಸ್ಪೋಟದ ತನಿಖೆ ತೀವ್ರಗತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ. ತಪ್ಪಿತಸ್ಥರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ಖಚಿತವಾಗಿ ಕಠಿಣ ಕ್ರಮ ಕೈಗೊಳ್ಳಲಾಗುವುದು.
ಪ್ರಾಥಮಿಕ ತನಿಖೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಣ್ಣ ಪ್ರಮಾಣದ ಸುಧಾರಿತ ಸ್ಪೋಟಕವಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದುಬಂದಿದೆ, ಪೂರ್ಣ ವರದಿ ಬಂದ ನಂತರ ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ಸಿಗಲಿದೆ.ಕ್ಯಾಶಿಯರ್ ಬಳಿ ಟೋಕನ್ ಪಡೆದು…
— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) March 1, 2024
https://twitter.com/kumaralankrit01/status/1763523488676303341
Describing the explosion as a "bomb blast", Karnataka DGP Alok Mohan said investigations are on and the police will find those who are behind it.
"At 1 pm, a bomb blast occurred at the hotel (cafe), nine people were injured, and no one is serious. We are investigating. FSL (forensic) teams have come and are checking. The city police commissioner and other officers are at the spot. We will certainly identify who did it," Mohan, who visited the spot said.
Asked whether an improvised explosive device (IED) was used for the blast, he said, "We are checking. Let's not say anything now itself. The FSL team has come and they are checking. Once they collect (samples from the spot), we will examine."
Asked about reports that some batteries were found at the spot, he said once the FSL team does the full examination, there will be clarity.
Cctv footages from #RameshwaramCafe where an explosion injured 9 people today.
Read more updates on our Live Page: https://t.co/0hZLKRaHJY pic.twitter.com/fz9RM7xCQr
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 1, 2024
Cctv footages from #RameshwaramCafe where an explosion injured 9 people today.
Read more updates on our Live Page: https://t.co/0hZLKRaHJY pic.twitter.com/247aBI7fiI
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 1, 2024
#Karnataka Home Minister @DrParameshwara on #RameshwaramCafe blast:
"Samples are being collected to see if it was an IED. Many people are making many claims of IED being placed and about a bag there but we are yet to get official confirmation. The home department will give… pic.twitter.com/VYfYy2lojt
— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) March 1, 2024
Edison, an eyewitness said, "I was waiting outside the eatery for my turn when suddenly we heard a loud noise... an explosion. We got scared not knowing what it was. There were around 35-40 people at the eatery. They all started rushing out and there was absolute chaos. They started saying that a cylinder exploded. But we don't know exactly what happened."
Karnataka CM @siddaramaiah on #RameshwaramCafe blast:
"As per the information I have, it is being claimed someone carried in a bag. It is being probed. Some 8 persons are injured. They are examining CCTVs & it shows someone keeping a bag there. It is said to be an IED. We have… pic.twitter.com/bOzRSsbDr7— Anusha Ravi Sood (@anusharavi10) March 1, 2024
"At 1.08 pm today, the fire department received a call about an LPG leakage fire in the cafe. When our officers and teams reached the spot, there was no fire or flame. A bag that was 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 due to some object in that bag," TN Shivashankar, Director of Karnataka State Fire and Emergency Services department told PTI.
It is not clear whose bag it was, he said.
Ruling out about the possibility of any gas cylinder leakage, the officer said, "I along with my team of officers inspected the spot. However, there is no sign of any leakage from the gas cylinder. We have checked it. Another LPG gas cylinder inside the kitchen which was used for tea and coffee was also checked but there is no leakage from it as well. There is no sign of gas leakage from any cylinders at the spot as per our initial probe."
CCTV footage is being scanned to check if there was any suspicious movement in and around Rameswaram Cafe in Whitefield, where the blast took place. Karnataka DGP Alok Mohan, Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda and other senior officials inspected the spot.
NIA and IB officials have been informed, the DGP said.
Those injured have been shifted to different hospitals for treatment. Among them were two staff and seven customers, officials said. Among those grievously injured is the woman who was sitting near the bag. She is being treated at the hospital
Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said samples were being analysed to confirm whether the blast was due to an IED.
"There was a blast at a cafe this afternoon. We are investigating how it happened and who did it or how it happened. Our commissioner and DGP have visited the spot, and the FSL team and bomb disposal squad have gone there. Samples are being collected. We will know the source soon," he said.
"Some nine people are injured and all have been shifted to the hospital. I am told none of them is critical or serious," he added.
"Samples are being collected to see if it was an IED. Many people are making many claims of IED being placed and about a bag there but we are yet to get official confirmation. The home department will give official information. I will not speculate. This is not the place to speculate anything. That isn’t right. I won’t react until I get an official report from the department," Parameshwara said.
Senior Police Officials leave #RameshwaramCafe after inquiry.
Read more updates on our Live Page: https://t.co/0hZLKRaHJY pic.twitter.com/CnLxACg7sm
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 1, 2024
PC Rao President of Bangalore Hotel Association told South First that he had spoken to the owner of Rameshwaram Cafe who told him that the explosion happened from inside a bag of a customer who was inside the hotel.
PC Rao, President of Bangalore Hotel Association speaks about his conversation with the owner of #RameshwaramCafe
Follow our Live Page for more updates : https://t.co/0hZLKRaHJY pic.twitter.com/6OBtUKYlts
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 1, 2024
Shabrish Kundalahalli, first respondent and a localite speaks to @TheSouthfirst about what transpired at #RameshwaramCafe.
Follow our Live Page for more updates : https://t.co/0hZLKRaHJY pic.twitter.com/E8Tiz2ZWhg
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 1, 2024
Karnataka DGP Dr Alok Mohan IPS reached the spot where the blast occurred.
#RameshwaramCafe: Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad have arrived at the spot.
Follow our Live Page for more updates : https://t.co/0hZLKRaHJY pic.twitter.com/x8A9bUgnlf
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) March 1, 2024
"Around five or 10 minutes after 1 pm we heard a huge sound of explosion. We were on the opposite side of the cafe. At first, we thought it was a cylinder blast. When we came here, at least five to six people were injured," Shabrish told South First.
"A 9-volt battery and pieces of bags were found at the spot of the explosion. There was no fire at all. There was a loud sound and smoke everywhere," Shabrish Kundalahalli, an eyewitness, told South First.
Former IPS Officer Bhaskar Rao said he spoke to the owner of Rameshwaram Cafe and said that the gas cylinders were intact. He asserted that it was a blast.
Spoke with Police Officers and Rathore, owner of Rameshwaram Cafe. Gas cylinders are intact. Police, Dog Squad Forensic and Post Blast Investigation teams have reached. They say, yes it’s a blast. City police will surely detect it with plethora of CCTV footages..Caution with High…
— Bhaskar Rao ( MODI KA PARIWAAR) (@Nimmabhaskar22) March 1, 2024
Just spoke to Rameshwaram Café founder Sri Nagaraj about the blast in his restaurant.
He informed me that the blast occurred because of a bag that was left by a customer and not any cylinder explosion. One of their employees is injured.
It’s seems to be a clear case of bomb…
— Tejasvi Surya (ಮೋದಿಯ ಪರಿವಾರ) (@Tejasvi_Surya) March 1, 2024
Disturbed by the recent explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru. My thoughts & prayers are with the injured. Such incidents are alarming, and I strongly appeal to the CM to assign this case to the NIA for a thorough and swift investigation.
— Shobha Karandlaje (Modi Ka Parivar) (@ShobhaBJP) March 1, 2024
At least four people have been injured in an explosion at Rameshwaram Cafe near the HAL area in Bengaluru on Friday, 1 March. The blast occurred at around 1 pm on Friday.
Initial reports suggested that the fire and emergency service personnel were informed of a cylinder explosion at the cafe. Prima facie assessment of the blast site has led police to believe that the explosion may not have been caused due to a cylinder blast. A probe is underway to assess if a gas pipeline caused the explosion or something else led to it.
Police and fire personnel rushed to the spot following the incident.
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