M A I N   N E W S

Army experts flown to Mumbai
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 25
As the Mumbai administration is trying hard to cope with the aftermath of the two high-intensity blasts which have claimed over 45 lives, the Centre this evening ordered explosive experts from the National Security Guard and Army to be flown to the metropolis to help in investigations.

Reports here suggest that the experts from the two specialised security agencies would help the Mumbai police ascertain the type of explosives used to trigger the blasts. Similar teams had also been dispatched after the serial blasts in Mumbai in 1993.

Experts here believe that high-grade explosives and detonating mechanism have been used in blasts.

They do not rule out the possibility of the use of RDX or Semtex keeping in view the broad expanse of the areas devastated in the twin blasts and the similarity of their use by terrorists in other parts of the world recently.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the explosives used for the two blasts today were similar to those used during the 1993 blasts. Investigations then had suggested the use of RDX and large quantities of the lethal explosive had also been seized by the security agencies later both from Mumbai and cities in Gujarat.

Experts said the use of large quantity of RDX could not be ruled out as the impact of the blast was felt till almost 100 metres away. In the blast near Gateway of India, where fewer persons had died as the area was not overcrowded, the impact had been felt at least 70 to 90 metres away, shattering windowpanes of Taj Mahal Hotel.