Suspected ultras triggered a major blast in two bogies of the Haldibari-Siliguri passenger train at Belakoba station in Jalpaiguri district.
Updated at 11.45 pm
JALPAIGURI: At least eight persons were killed and around 60 injured in a powerful explosion, triggered by suspected extremists in the general compartment of a passenger train when it halted at Belakhoba station in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district on Monday evening.
IGP (Railways) Tushar Bhattacharya said that seven persons were killed in the explosion that occurred in Haldibari-Siliguri passenger train at 6:30 pm.
The explosion was so severe that a side and the roof of the bogie were blown away.
IGP (Law and Order) Raj Kanoria said the bodies were charred beyond recognition.
The toll might go up as several of the injured were in a critical condition in hospital, Bhattacharya said.
Home Secretary P R Roy said the explosion was suspected to be the handiwork of North Bengal militants.
Asked if he suspected the militant group Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, which has links with ULFA, he said "it might be the KLO or the ULFA. We are trying to get details."
Eyewitnesses said there was a flash followed by a deafening explosion. There were two small explosions immediately afterwards.
"Some of the passengers jumped out of the coach in panic, while many received burns," they said.
NF Railway sources in Maligaon in Assam, under which the railway division falls, said a medical relief team left Siliguri immediately after receiving information about the blast while another left Guwahati.
A Guwahati report quoting Chief Public Relations Officer Mr T Rabha, N F Railway headquarters, put the number of injured at 65.
Of them, 45 were admitted to hospital in New Jalpaiguri while 20 others with minor injures were treated at the primary health centre in Belakoba.
Bomb experts were at the site collecting samples for forensic examination.
The damage to the tracks would be ascertained after the debris were cleared on Tuesday.
Helplines: (Beladoba) 03561240117 (NJP) 0356-2691860, 2691808 and 2691555.
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