Two construction workers were injured on Tuesday following a mysterious explosion at an under-construction building located on Jarmia Road in Bengaluru’s Pulakeshinagar locality. The incident, which occurred on the fourth floor of the structure, prompted a significant response from local law enforcement and specialized investigative agencies.
The two injured workers, identified as Allauddin and Suraj, were promptly rushed to Bowring Hospital for medical treatment. While the exact nature of the blast is still being determined, authorities have not ruled out the possibility of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) being involved. Police reported that materials suspected to be linked to an IED were recovered from the scene and have since been dispatched to a forensic laboratory for detailed analysis.
Multiple investigative units, including the Pulakeshinagar police, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), and officials from the Internal Security Division (ISD), arrived at the site to conduct a thorough inspection. East Division Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Vikram Amate also visited the location to oversee the preliminary evidence gathering. Authorities are currently reviewing why the two workers present at the time of the blast failed to immediately report the event to others on-site.
Providing details on the potential cause, Bengaluru Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh noted that, prima facie, it appears the explosion occurred when someone attempted to switch on a battery-like object. Commissioner Singh clarified that reports suggesting a parcel was involved are inaccurate, emphasizing that the focus of the investigation remains on the battery itself. The police have also questioned the owner of the building as part of their ongoing inquiry into how the suspected materials reached the fourth floor and who may have placed them there.
Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge confirmed that a formal investigation is underway to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the event. During a brief media interaction, Kharge stated that the government is evaluating the situation and awaiting the final results of the forensic audit before providing further updates to the public. The minister’s statement highlighted the state's commitment to determining if the incident poses a larger security concern.
Investigators are now working to establish a timeline, with preliminary suspicions suggesting that the object may have been brought to the construction site as early as two days prior to the explosion. As the investigation progresses, police are continuing to analyze samples collected from the site to identify the specific components of the explosive material. The authorities have maintained a cautious approach, prioritizing the forensic report to confirm whether the device was indeed an IED or if other factors contributed to the blast.
The incident has caused concern in the area, leading to increased scrutiny of safety protocols at construction sites throughout the city. Security officials are currently reviewing security footage and conducting interviews with witnesses to piece together the events that led to the injuries of the two laborers. Further updates are expected once the forensic science laboratory completes its examination of the seized items.
Comments