NSG commando cordon off food eatery blast site at Mall Road Shimla

A team of the National Security Guard (NSG) cordon off the eatery on Mall Road today where an LPG gas leak apparently led to a massive blast on Tuesday in the incident one person died and 13 others sustained injuries.

A National Security Guards team cordon off the food eatery blast site around Mall Road Shimla on Sunday to rule out the use of improvised explosive devices (IED).

According to Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu NSG joined the investigation as per Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) of the Union Minister of Home Affairs of the Government of India.

A state SIT investigation is being conducted by the FSL team Junga and a state police report is not out so far.

A police officer said that NSG joined the investigation this morning around 0800 hrs including a dozen of commando.

As stated earlier the blast occurred on Tuesday evening at Himachali Rasoi eatery, known for serving Himachali cuisines, located in Middle Bazaar adjacent to the fire brigade office in the heart of the town

Police said the blast was apparently caused by a gas leak. 

 DGP confirmed that a team from the National Bomb Data Centre of the NSG has come for the post-blast investigation to find out the cause of the explosion.

 The place where the blast occurred was sensitive as it is near the Police Reporting Room. 

The NSG specializes in this field and their services are being availed to determine the cause of the blast according to the SOP of the government, he said.

 DGP also visited the blast site day after the incident and said preliminary investigation and forensic examination have pointed out that the gas leak led to the blast.

Eyewitness and injured people confirmed about the gas leak from two LPG cylinders led to the blast but more casualties were averted as the place was closed for maintenance.

The suspicion is being raised due to the high intensity of the explosion that shattered windows of several shops and houses in the vicinity and the sound of the explosion was heard miles away.