Secretary Internal Security U K Bansal told media in the Wednesday that the condition of two is very serious and 61 are out of danger. He said that preliminary investigations suggest that Pentaerythritol tetranitrat, PETN explosive was used in the blast.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) has started probe into the blast. Immediately after Home Minister announced that the agency will conduct the investigations, a 20 member headed by a DIG was constituted to carry out the probe. The NIA Chief Sharad Chandra Sinha said that the agency will seriously look into the claim of Harkat-ul-Jehadi which took responsibility for the blast.
The blast took place outside the High Court compound between Gate No. 4 and 5 when about 200 people were waiting to get passes to enter the premises. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha the Home Minister Mr. P. Chidambaram said that this was a terrorist act aimed at to destabilize the country. Strongly condemning the blast Mr. Chidambaram asserted the resolve of the government to track down the perpetrators of horrific crime and bring them to justice. He said, it is too early to identify the people behind the act.
Delhi Police has released the sketches of the suspects based on the description given by eye witnesses. The Home Minister visited the blast site to have on the spot assessment of the situation. Earlier, he held an emergency meeting with the senior officials of Home Ministry and Intelligence to take stock of the situation.
At the blast site pieces of flesh were seen on the ground with lawyers and litigants with blood soaked clothes running helter skelter for cover. Many of the injured admitted in the hospital have been operated as extra medical teams were rushed to these hospitals.
A nationwide alert has been sounded in the wake of the blast. All the states have been asked to step up vigil and take precautionary measures. The security in the national capital region has also been beefed up including at the Delhi Metro premises and its installations across the capital.
Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Delhi Chief Minister and several other leaders visited Ram Manohar Lohia hospital where most of the injured have been admitted to enquire about their condition.
Delhi Government has announced a compensation of 4 lakh rupees to the next of the kin of those killed in the blast while those permanently incapacitated will get 2 lakh rupees. Apart from that, those seriously injured in the blast will get one lakh rupees while in case of any death of minor, the family will get 1.5 lakh rupees.
Helplines have been set up at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Safdarjung and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospitals in the capital to answer the queries of relatives of those who are admitted there.
For AIIMS, the helpline number is – 011-26101925. For Safdarjung Hospital, the helpline telephone No. is 011-26707444. For Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, the telephone numbers are – 011-23744721 and 011-23365525.
The blast has been widely condemned. President vice president and prime minister have condemned the blast in strongest term. The Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi called for strict action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime.
BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad described the incident as painful, agonising and distressfully and asked the government to explain whether there was any intelligence failure.
Mr. Basudeb Acharya of CPIM, called for a united fight against terrorism. Mr. D. Raja of CPI urged the government that those responsible for the heinous act must be punished.
Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav and JD(U) Chief Sharad Yadav stressed the need to take enough preventive measures to deter a recurrence of such events in future. Mr. Mulyam Singh Yadav said.