Blast in Kashmir kills women from Mumbai

Three women from Mumbai have been killed after their tourist bus fell victim to a massive blast in south Kashmir’s Zuripora village, situated in the state’s Anantnag district. Though the police have played down the matter and claimed that the event was the consequence of a cylinder blast, the tour operator maintains that a grenade was hurled at the bus when it had stopped to pay requisite toll tax.

“The driver had stopped to pay the toll tax when someone hurled a grenade into the bus. I had not provided any kitchen facilities to the group so there is no question of a cylinder being there,” said Yashpaul Sharma, owner of Bhagwati Tours and Travels, the group responsible for providing the tourists with transport. Police however maintained that there indeed was a cylinder blast in the bus. “Today a cylinder exploded in a vehicle which was on its way from Srinagar to Pahalgam. Eight passengers were injured, of whom three succumbed later,” a police spokesman said in Srinagar.

The deceased were identified as Neesha Jeetwah, Nirmala Rathore and Indu Bhae. The injured were identified as Bharti, Neeta Jethwah, Preetama Jethwah, Jayshri Desai and Jaswanti Thakur, all from Mumbai. Those injured were shifted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Srinagar where yet another tourist succumbed to her wounds. “Three people are dead so far. We are trying to ascertain their identity,” said Vijay Kumar, deputy inspector general of police, south Kashmir range.

Ghatkopar resident Neeta Jethwa has suffered injuries to her lower and upper limbs. The 52-year-old says, “We first visited Vaishno Devi shrine and later came to Srinagar before going to Gulmarg. We were proceeding to Pahalgam when suddenly there was a big blast.”

Police have sought forensic help despite their claim that the blast was accidental. The cylinder blast explanation has also started to wear thin after experts have pointed out that in the event of such an explosion, the bus would have certainly caught fire.

Somewhat ironically, the blast occurred on a day when defence minister AK Antony chaired a joint security review meeting and called for coordination to thwart any attempt from enemies to disturb the peace in the state. “ Enemies from across the border will continue their efforts; however, if the security and intelligence agencies understand each other better, their efforts will not succeed,” he said.