Several residents of Nalagarh woke up on New Year’s Day to a loud blast near the local police station in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district on Thursday.
No one was injured in the incident, officials said, adding that a probe has been launched to find out what caused the explosion.
The impact of the blast, which occurred in a lane close to the Nalagarh police station, was so strong that windows of nearby buildings were damaged, including those of an Army canteen located about 40 metres away.
Locals said the sound of the explosion was heard from a distance of nearly 400 to 500 metres. An eyewitness said even 16 mm-thick glass panes shattered and everything shook at the time of the blast.
Police immediately rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure.
Baddi Superintendent of Police Vinod Dhiman said the blast occurred around 9.40 am and that forensic teams have collected samples from various locations.
He said the exact cause of the explosion and the chemical involved would be known once the forensic report is received.
Speaking to mediapersons, the SP said no threatening call or email was received and that, prima facie, no explosive-related mischief had been found. He added that CCTV footage from the area is being examined.
The SP said a large amount of scrap was stored in the area and that an explosion caused by paint or other materials could not be ruled out. He also directed scrap dealers to avoid negligence.
Appealing to residents to report any suspicious activity or persons, the SP said there was no need to panic and assured that the situation was under control.
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