Seven injured in Varanasi blast (Second Lead)

VARANASI - Seven people, including a foreigner, were injured Tuesday in a blast in this temple town during the evening aarti ritual watched by hundreds of people on the banks of the Ganga river.

“The blast took place while hundreds of people had gathered at the Shitla ghat for the the routine evening ‘aarti’ (prayer),” state Additional Director General of Police Brij Lal told reporters.

Preliminary investigations have revealed that the blast was caused by a device concealed in a jug containing milk. Lal however maintained, “it would be premature to make any comment on the nature of the blast. The blast was big enough to cause damage as well as panic and commotion in the entire area,” he said.

He said he had no information of any deaths.

“All I can say is that seven people are reported injured and four of these have already been hospitalized,” he added.

Varanasi was last rocked by twin-blasts March 7, 2006, leaving 20 dead and over a 100 injured.