PUNE: Local residents, shocked by the loud blast at German Bakery, say tin sheets and furniture parts were lying about 50 metres away and that there was blood and body parts strewn around, indicating that the explosion was caused by a sophisticated device.
An injured Sivasa, a foreign national, said the Bakery had been completely destroyed. ‘‘I was inside German Bakery and it was crammed with people.
Suddenly I heard a loud blast and saw many people lying on the floor. Though I have suffered minor injuries, I can’t speak much as I am in deep shock.’’ Narendra Darode, a local resident, had gone to a temple near German Bakery for the 7 pm aarti. ‘‘Just as we were about to start at about 7 pm, we heard a loud blast. I came out of the temple and looked towards Bakery and saw massive flames and smoke coming out ... There were several body parts scattered around.’’
He said after informing the police, he along with his friend carried three bodies — mostly of foreigners — in rickshaws to nearby hospitals.
Rajesh Dhage, owner of a footwear shop, said: ‘‘I rushed out to see what happened and saw many bodies lying on the road.’
He said people were running around in panic, women were crying and people were coming out of Bakery with injuries on hands and feet. ‘‘They were all foreign nationals, who were crying in shock and pain. I went ahead and helped them. By that time, the police had cordoned off the Bakery area by putting up barricades.’’ Santosh Bhosale, another shopkeeper near the bakery, said the blast was very loud. ‘‘When I heard the blast, I thought it was an earthquake,” he said.