Five killed in blast in northern Indian town

Uttar PradeshNew Delhi - Five persons were killed and at least three critically injured on Saturday in an explosion at an army waste dump in the northern Indian town of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh state, news reports said.

A group of waste collectors were sorting out rubbish when the blast occurred, PV Ramashastri, deputy inspector general of police said.

The blast may have been caused by dynamite sticks in the scrap heap, NDTV television reported quoting police sources.

Ramashastri said forensic experts were investigating the cause of the accident.

Meerut, located about 65 kilometres north-east of the Indian capital, is a communally sensitive town with a large Muslim population.

There have been a series of terrorist blasts in major Indian towns since May and the police were quick to confirm that the blast in Meerut was an accident. (dpa)

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