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Toll in Punjab train blast rises to 14

The toll in the Puja Express bomb blast, which occurred last night, today rose to 14 while the number of injured went up to 100.

Union Consumer Affairs Minister Shanta Kumar, who was travelling in the same train, escaped unhurt.

He told UNI on telephone from Delhi that he had boarded the train at Chaki Bank near Damtal. The blast occurred within three and half minutes of the departure of the train from Chaki Bank, he said.

Shanta Kumar did not rule out the possibility of the bomb blast being an attempt on his life, though he said the bogie in which he was travelling was quite far from the blast-ripped compartment.

The reports said the blast occurred around 2030 hrs and its impact was felt within a one-km radius.

The injured were taken to a military hospital at Pathankot and seven of them were discharged after being given treatment.

So far no militant outfit has claimed responsibility for the blast.

UNI

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