Live reporting of Bangalore blast

Bangalore, Apr 18: Following is the minute by minute reporting of today's blast outside BJP party office here:10:15 am: Normal morning activity in congested Malleswaram locality.10:20 am: A huge explosion rips through three cars and other vehicles parked a few metres away from BJP office. A scooter, on which the explosive was kept, lies mangled. 10:22 am: Screams rent the air, as nearly 16 persons with shrapnel injuries lie on the street. 10:25 am: Police and ambulance vans rush to the spot and cordon off the area. Injured are taken into ambulances and rushed to K C General hospital. Firefighters douse the flames with water.10.40 am: Ravi Chandran, an eyewitness, describes: “We heard a loud sound. For a few minutes I could not even register what had happened. When I could actually see -- it seemed as if the building was about to fall. There was fire everywhere. Three cars, three bikes and a police van were on fire. Later three cars were gutted, while four persons were injured. Then it was fire everywhere. I could not understand anything.”11 am: Forensic experts alongwith sniffer dogs comb the area, hunting for clues. 11:16 am: Home Ministry in Delhi initially says it's a cylinder blast, but later revises it to an IED blast. 11:51 am: Home Ministry seeks report on blast from Karnataka Police, asks NIA to visit spot11:52 am: Bangalore Police Commissioner Raghavendra H. Auradkar initially says it was a cylinder blast, later revises it to a two-wheeler blast. He says, blast took place with the help of explosives and incendiary material.2 pm: NIA team reaches the scene of blast.2:30 pm: Bangalore police says, the number plate TN 22 R 3769 found on the Ind Suzuki motorbike is a fake one. Police takes CCTV footage from outside BJP office.2:35 pm: Minister of state for Home RPN Singh says, Centre has sought report, asks parties not to play politics. 2:45 pm: T R Suresh, DCP North East, Bangalore, rejects news reports of a second blast in Hebbal, says it's all rumour 2:47 pm: Home Minister Sushil Shinde clueless in Kolkata, says, I will enquire if it was a terror attack and let the country know. 3:05 pm: Karnataka Law Minister Suresh Kumar and MP D B Chandregowda visit scene of blast. 3 pm: Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi dissociates from party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed's statement that the blast will help BJP in Karnataka polls. Says: terror attacks should not be seen in the light of political gains and losses.3:50 pm: MHA sources: it's a coincidence that today is 3rd anniversary of Chinnaswamy stadium blast. Today's was an IED blast and the modus operandi suggests Indian Mujahideen could be behind it.4 pm: BJP leader Ananth Kumar reaches scene of blast. 4:15 pm: Six hours after blast, an abandoned black and red coloured bag found from an adjoining street by a sniffer dog.4:50 pm: Bangalore police chief Raghavendra Auradkar appeals to people not to listen to rumours. "We (police, NIA) are all working together."5 pm: Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed says he stand by his tweet. "I am in politics for last 28 years. I won't give any irresponsible statement. I said, BJP would obviously gain some sympathy in the coming elections. BJP leaders should first understand what I said."5:30 pm: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut says, it's an intelligence failure of the Home Ministry. "They could not solve Hyderabad blasts till now. Today's blast shows terrorists are now targetting BJP."6:50 pm: Bangalore police revises casualty figures: 11 policemen, 5 civilians injured. 7 pm: MHA sources say: NIA, NSG teams are in Bangalore. CFSL forensic team will reach from Hyderabad shortly. 3 four wheelers, 3 two wheelers and KSRP police van severely damaged in blast. Initial forensic report expected tomorrow.