This is the moment a rooftop explosion allegedly triggered during illegal bomb-making by a Muslim family on the roof of a residential building left two dead and two badly injured.
The blast happened on top of a building in Sundarpada, an upscale neighbourhood in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha state in eastern India, on 27th January.
CCTV footage captures a sudden fireball erupting from behind water tanks on the roof, followed by thick clouds of smoke surging into the sky. The force of the explosion appears to jolt the entire structure.
Women are seen running in panic with flames visible on their bodies and clothes. They pull off their burning garments and throw them aside in an attempt to put out the fire.
An injured man then walks into view and sits in front of a water tank as water runs down, apparently trying to cool his burns. Moments earlier, he is seen near the rooftop area before briefly collapsing.
Police said four people suffered serious injuries and were first taken to Capital Hospital before being shifted to a private medical facility for advanced treatment. A woman and her son later succumbed to their injuries, officers confirmed.
Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagmohan Meena identified Shahnawaz Malik as the prime accused and said he has a criminal background with previous cases registered against him.
Investigators are probing the incident from the angle of alleged illegal bomb-making.
Preliminary findings suggest Shahnawaz Malik, along with associate Amiya Malik, his mother and another accomplice, was allegedly involved in manufacturing explosive devices at the house.
Gunpowder was recovered from the scene.
DCP Meena said: “The main injured person had a criminal record earlier. It appears they were planning some kind of criminal activity, for which they might have been making a bomb. Four people were injured in the blast while making the explosives.”
Given the gravity of the incident, the National Investigation Agency has taken over the case. A Special Investigation Team had initially been formed by local police before the central agency stepped in.
Officials said CCTV footage is being closely analysed and forensic evidence gathered to determine the exact cause of the explosion and examine whether any larger conspiracy was involved.
Security has been tightened in and around Sundarpada as the investigation continues.
To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below. Story By: Aloysius Fernandes, Sub-Editor: Simona Kitanovska, Agency: Newsflash
The Ananova page is created by and dedicated to professional, independent freelance journalists. It is a place for us to showcase our work. When our news is sold to our media partners, we will include the link here.
