Blast heard outside CRPF school in India’s New Delhi, probe underway

A loud explosion was heard on Sunday (Oct 20) near a school of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in India’s national capital New Delhi. The school is located in Prashant Vihar in New Delhi’s Rohini.

No injuries were reported.

Visuals shared by the news agency ANI showed the affected area barricaded as teams of police and the forensic department began an investigation into the incident.

A team from the bomb squad was also inspecting the area to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

A report by the Hindustan Times said that the explosion caused damage to the CRPF school, nearby shops, and a car.

Officials from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) told Hindustan Times that they received a call about the explosion at 7.47 am IST. “We immediately rushed two fire engines to the spot. There was no fire and no one was injured due to the blast, so our vehicle returned,” the DFS officials said.

Speaking to ANI, Shashank, an eyewitness of the blast, said, “… The only possibilities which we think of are a cylinder blast or a building collapse… There was a big cloud of smoke here which stayed for a good 10 minutes.”

“The glasses of the shops here have broken and the hoardings have been displaced… The police were here within 5 minutes because there is a Crime Branch, Police Station, and District Court nearby,” Shashank added.

(With inputs from agencies)