Patna: At least four people, including two small children, were injured in the explosion in Sultanpur Mirsatoli under the area of the Danapur Police Station in West Patna around 2pm.
The explosion damaged Suleiman Ansari (80) homes and neighbors Ayaz Khan (64) and destroyed the window of the house belonging to Nasim Ahmed, Bhola Sao and Ashok Sao in the neighborhood.
Khan Zaida’s wife Khatoon (60), wife Ansari Saddrina Khatoon (75) and her grandson Abdul Ahmed (2) and Mohammad Shahid (9) were injured in the explosion.
Zaida’s injury told this newspaper that he was cooking food when the explosion occurred and the outer wall fell to him.
Eyewitnesses said they saw greenish white smoke that steamed from the point of explosion with a strong smell of gunpowder.
Patna SSP Upendra Kumar Sharma, SP (West) Ashok Kumar Mishra and Danapur Sdpo Syed Imran Masood reached a place with forensic experts for investigations.
Masood said two sons Ansari, Shafiq Ahmed and Taufiq Ahmed aka Fisiq Ahmed, and the son of Khan Mohammad Geru had been detained for interrogation.
He did not rule out the possibility of an explosion from a low intensity bomb.
“Investigations are being carried out from all angles, including if the cooking gas leak causes an explosion,” he said.
Masood, a young IPS officer, said forensic experts had collected samples from explosion sites and their analysis would clarify.
“There are no flagships, broken bullets or severe burns of the explosion,” SSP said.
The source said the preliminary test carried out by forensic experts could not immediately determine the presence of explosive substances.
Ansari’s family likes the garment stitching business while Khan sells clothes on the roadside in Danapur.
Brick broke from the wall, acting as a projectile, damaging household items from both families.
Zaida had received at least eight stitches in his head while Abdul’s ear was broken because of the explosion shock wave which resulted in severe bleeding.
He was originally taken to the primary health center from where he was rushed to PMCH.