Bengaluru: Two construction workers were seriously injured after a suspicious explosion at an under-construction building on Jermiah Road in Pulikeshi Nagar, Bengaluru, on Tuesday, with a preliminary probe suggesting that a battery-like object inside a bag may have exploded.

The injured workers, identified as Allauddin and Suraj, were taken to Bowring Hospital in Shivajinagar for treatment. One of them reportedly suffered a serious eye injury, while the other sustained a severe hand injury.

The explosion occurred on the fourth floor of the building, whose owner has been identified as Abdul Rahman.

ATS, ISD and bomb squad inspect site

The blast prompted a security response, with teams from the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Internal Security Division (ISD) and bomb squad inspecting the site.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the explosion, including whether the incident was accidental or deliberate. However, there is no confirmed evidence at this stage to establish that it was a deliberate attack.

Preliminary information indicated that a battery-like object inside a bag exploded after it was brought into the building.

Karnataka minister Priyank Kharge said materials recovered from the site had been sent for forensic examination.

“We are evaluating that. All the materials have gone for a forensic audit. Once that is done, we will get back to you,” Kharge said when asked about the incident.
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Witness describes explosion

A witness identified as Mansoor said the explosion took place at around 2 pm, according to Hindustan Times.

“Suddenly, at around 2 pm, we heard a very loud explosion. When we rushed to see what had happened, two people inside the building were lying in pools of blood,” he said.

He said one of the workers had suffered a serious eye injury, while the other had lost a hand.
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Probe into possible explosive material

According to preliminary reports, the workers had found a bag and taken it to the fourth floor before the explosion. Investigators are examining whether the object contained a battery, explosive material or another substance capable of causing the blast.

Forensic teams are expected to examine the chemical composition of the recovered material and establish the precise cause of the explosion.

A case has been registered and the investigation is underway. Authorities are yet to establish whether the explosion involved an improvised explosive device or was caused by an accidental malfunction of an object.

The incident has prompted heightened security checks in the area as investigators continue to determine what was inside the bag and how the explosion occurred.