Photo taken on March 7, 2017 shows the scene of an operation against a suspect who is believed to be behind the explosion of Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train in Lucknow, capital of northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, on March 7, 2017. At least nine people were wounded Tuesday in an explosion inside a passenger train in central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, officials said. (Xinhua/Stringer)
NEW DELHI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were wounded Tuesday in an explosion inside a passenger train in central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, officials said.
The blast went off in a coach of Bhopal-Ujjain passenger express near Jabdi railway station in Shajapur district, about 77 km west of Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh.
"This morning in a blast inside a train at Kalapeepal in Shajapur district, nine people were wounded," a local government official told Xinhua. "Two seriously wounded people have been referred to hospitals at Bhopal and Shajapur, while seven others were admitted in Kalapeepal hospital."
According to the official, the cause of explosion was being ascertained.
"A probe team has been rushed to the site," a local government minister Bhupendra Singh told media. "Smell of gun powder was felt in the affected coach and it will be ascertained in the investigation if that was a planned act or not."
India's official broadcaster -- All India Radio (AIR) -- said passengers have given different accounts of the explosion in wirings, mobile, suitcase, etc.
Following the blast, the affected coach has been detached from train, after which train was allowed to proceed to its destination to Ujjain.
The local government has announced a financial assistance of 750 U.S. dollars to each of the two critically wounded persons, while 375 U.S. dollars each to the remaining others wounded in the blast.
The Indian sprawling railways are the world's third largest network, ferrying around 23 million people each day.
In 2015, the Indian government announced an investment of over 137 billion U.S. dollars over a period on next five years to boost railways and modernise it on new lines.
