A day ahead of Prime Minister Vajpayee's visit to Mumbai, a powerful explosion ripped through an auto-rickshaw, killing a woman and injuring 25 others, near a crowded market at suburban Vile Parle on Monday night, police sources said.
Eleven persons were admitted to Cooper hospital, among them a ten-year old child is reported to be critical. A woman succumbed to her injuries at the hospital, while six others are in the ICU. Fourteen others injured have been taken to Nanavati hospital.
Forensic experts are at the site to ascertain the nature of the blast.
Police suspect that the explosion was triggered by a crude bomb carried by a bicycle rider, who was also injured in the mishap. The blast occurred near the Dinanath Sabhagraha at around 8.30 pm.
The explosion was so powerful that the front portion of the auto- rickshaw was ripped apart and splinters flew to the nearby area injuring several people. A nearby showroom was also damaged.
Police Commissioner R S Sharma, who rushed to the spot, told reporters that tight security arrangements had been made for the Prime Minister's visit on Tuesday. He, however, ruled out the hand of the banned organisation SIMI in the blast.
BJP Vice President Gopinath Munde,
who was at the spot, squarely blamed the Maharashtra government for its
laxity in preventing a series of explosions in the past two months. He
alleged the intelligence network had completely failed.