NEW DELHI: Residents of Rohini's Prashant Vihar woke up to unusual vibrations on Sunday morning, jolted by a thunderous sound.
Fearing an earthquake, they rushed outside, only to be met with a chemical-like odour and thick white smoke, leaving them in shock.
No one was injured although there were around a dozen men near the site.
CCTV footage from near the CRPF school captured the moment when the explosion disrupted the morning calm, shattering window panes in nearby buildings.
KZF claims responsibilityIn the evening, a Telegram group allegedly linked to banned outfit Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) claimed responsibility, posting a message with a veiled reference to Lawrence Bishnoi along with CCTV footage of the blast.
Sound was incredibly loudAdvocate Shashank Goswami said: "When I came out of my house, I was unable to see anything. There was a pungent smell of burning," he said. " There is a court and Delhi Police's unit office nearby. The area is highly secure, with CCTV cameras installed at various spots. Even then, the blast occurred here."
"It wasn't like a firecracker; the sound was incredibly loud. And for 15-20 minutes, there was just smoke everywhere," another local resident said.
Parents of students relievedParents of students were relieved the incident occurred on a Sunday, yet they couldn't shake their concerns about what could have happened.
"My son studies in class 9 at that school. I couldn't help but worry for his safety," shared Rita Singh, a local resident.
Anita Singh had just returned from the temple when she heard the "very loud explosion." She recalled, "I felt the vibrations in my house. It was like a gas cylinder had exploded nearby. My children's school bus usually stops here, and we often wait at this gate in the morning."
Officials suspect the blast might have been caused by a crude bomb. Security forces have cordoned off the area and are collecting samples and CCTV footage to determine the cause.
(With inputs from agencies)
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