Jammu and Kashmir: Post mysterious car blast, NIA team rushes to Banihal, collects samples

A mysterious blast this morning triggered panic in Banihal tehsil of Ramban district.

''A blast occurred inside a car at Tethar near Peerpira Morh in Banihal on Jammu-Srinagar national highway,'' official sources here said.

They said that the cause of explosion besides other damages, are also being ascertained.

According to the sources, a convoy of CRPF was also passing by when the explosion took place.

Meanwhile, a NIA team visited to the spot and collected samples from the scene of the blast in which Santro car was completely damaged while a paramilitary CRPF vehicle suffered minor damages.

A team from the Hyundai Motors India also visited to the scene and based on the chassis and other details, identified the owner of the vehicle, which has been registered on February 21, 2011,
sources further said.

“The bus carrying CRPF personnel reportedly suffered some damages but the car in which blast took place was completely damaged,” sources added.
A CRPF Spokesperson said, ''at around 1030 hours, an explosion took place in a civil car near Banihal while CRPF convoy was on move.''
''The car caught fire and slight damage was caused in the rear of one of the CRPF vehicles the Spokesperson further said adding that no injuries were caused to CRPF personnel.

''Incident is being investigated in respect to all possible angles,'' he added.

However, an eyewitness on the spot said that explosion could also be due to cylinder blast inside the car but exact details were being ascertained.

Sources added, “according to a preliminary investigation, the blast near Tethar village might have occurred after one of the two gas cylinders in the car caught fire”.
They added that the car was completely gutted in the fire and at the time of blast, CRPF vehicle, which was passing through the highway at the time of the incident, suffered slight damages in the rear side but all the personnel on board, escaped unhurt.

“Police rushed a team of experts to the spot to ascertain whether the blast happened due to cylinder explosion or due to any explosive material,” they said adding that it seems to be a cylinder blast but NIA team has collected samples and further investigations are underway.”

The incident triggered memories of the February 14 Pulwama Terror attack that claimed over 40 lives.

“The driver of the car is escaping but a manhunt is launched to trace him,” they added.

Traffic on the strategic highway which was halted due to the blast, was resumed later.