RDX may have been used in Ahmedabad blast

The government on Tuesday told the Lok Sabha that the explosive used in Sunday's blast at Ahmedabad railway station was possibly RDX. This is the conclusion based on the blast's intensity, which blew up a huge chunk of the platform roof, apart from other damages.

Railways Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav made this suo moto statement and added that no arrests have already been made. He also said that the damage to railway property was approximately Rs 2 lakh.

The minister confirmed that security arrangements at the station have been reviewed by government railway police officials, who have also begun joint patrolling with the railway protection force staff.

The Gujarat government has been instructed to beef up security measures but Lalu said that additional forces, along with sniffer dogs, have been deployed to guard stations.

Stating that if a train had been present at the time, there could have been many deaths, Lalu said that of the 25 injured, 10 were discharged after first aid. Three have been hospitalised, he said, and an ex-gratia payment of Rs 500 has been made to each injured passenger.