Mumbai, July 29: Maharashtra has been put on red alert following yesterday`s bomb blast in BEST bus near the Ghatkopar telephone exchange in north-east Mumbai. Three persons were killed and 38 injured as suspected terrorists set off a powerful explosion that ripped through the rear portion of the bus. While police said no terrorist organisation had claimed the responsibility for the blast, they did not rule out the hand of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India.
Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who rushed to the site, said a similar pattern was noticed in four earlier explosions that have rocked the city since December last.
Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has announced Rs 50000 ex-gratia for the seriously wounded and Rs 10,000 with less serious injuries.
Two persons were killed on the spot while an injured man succumbed to injuries in Sion hospital.

In the second bus blast in Ghatkopar in seven months, the bomb, kept under a seat in the rear portion of the Bombay Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) bus, went off at around 2115 hours near the telephone exchange.
Witnesses said the blast occurred when the bus was moving along the bustling Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg. Another bus coming from the opposite direction was damaged in the blast. Two motorcycles and autorickshaws parked in the vicinity were also damaged and rattled nearby buildings forcing people to scurry out in panic.
At Rajawadi hospital, Shiv sainiks gheraoed Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Kripashankar Singh to protest against the government`s failure in controlling the situation.
After the blast, the opposition Shiv Sena and BJP called for a Mumbai bandh on July 30. The decision was taken by Sena chief Bal Thackeray and BJP vice president Gopinath Munde.
Bureau Report