Bangalore blast case: As it happened on Monday

8:30 pm: Bangalore is closer to the US than any other city in India. There are many American companies in Bangalore while many others outsource their work to companies based in Bangalore: MHA official. 

8:30 pm: Terror groups are repeatedly targeting Bangalore as it gives them instant publicity globally and acts to thwart foreign investment there, says Ministry of Home Affairs.

8:20 pm: Investigation under State police,waiting for final outcome of police, if necessary,NIA will take over, says Kiren Rijiju, MoS Home.

6:55 pm: We are looking at whether there is any involvement of these people in this particular incident: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

6:55 pm: Some ex SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) activists had escaped from Khandwa jail: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

6:50 pm: We are coordinating with all state and Central forces: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

6:48 pm: There are teams that have come from Chennai and NIA: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

6:45 pm: We'll ensure complete confidentiality of identity of person: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

6:45 pm: It has been decided to offer a reward of Rs 10 lakh to any individual who gives credible info to police: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

6:15 pm: Meanwhile, the Bangalore Police asked people not to pay heed to rumours.

BCP is aware about the tweets of LatestAbdul. They r being examined. There is NO reason to be alarmed. Please donot pay heed to rumours. — CCB (@CCBBangalore) December 29, 2014

Please doNOT believe BASELESS rumours of more blasts. Situation is under control. Multiple agencies r coordinating efforts & helping BCP — Abhishek Goyal (@goyal_abhei) December 29, 2014

4: 30 pm: Central teams comprising investigators and explosive experts are being dispatched to visit Bangalore from Delhi and Hyderabad and they would join the local police in the blast probe.

3:50 pm: No specific terror alert has been issued for Hyderabad: Telangana DGP Anurag Sharma

3: 45pm: Security has been stepped up in Hyderabad following Bangalore bomb blast: Telangana DGP Anurag Sharma

2:45 pm: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said that the Centre has suggested to states that CCTV cameras should be installed at public places in Bangalore and other main cities.  

2:30 pm: According to IB, terrorists have learnt making bombs from al Qaeda websites.

2:30 pm: The absonding SIMI terrorists were last spotted in Hospet, Bellary and Bangalore.

2:30 pm: Evidences found at the blast site indicate SIMI hand, sources said.

2:29 pm: The MHA discussed and analysed Bijnore, Pune, Chennai blasts that were similar to the Sunday's blast near an eatery in Bangalore's Church Road.

2:28 pm: Sources say that the MHA has discussed 5 SIMI terrorists who are absconding.

2:12 pm: Multiple teams have been sent to multiple locations: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

2:11 pm: We will enhance and strengthen security in central Bangalore both in general and in view of New Year: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

2:11 pm: Investigation is going on, we are hoping that teams are successful: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

2:10 pm: Situation absolutely under control, appeal people to not pay heed to any rumours: MN Reddi, Bangalore Police Commissioner

1:11 pm: Definitely, it is a terror attack: MoS for Home Affairs​ Kiren Rijiju 

1:10 pm: The low-intensity blast in Bangalore is a "terror attack" possibly carried out by SIMI: MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju 

1:00 pm: Bangalore police has advanced time to end New Year celebrations from 2am to 1am in the wake of Sunday's blast.

12:55 pm: If required, Bangalore blast case could be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA): MHA Rajnath Singh

The Centre is waiting for the details from the state. If needed the case could be handed over to the NIA: HM — HMO India (@HMOIndia) December 29, 2014

12:53 pm: Singh informed the media that the Intelligence Agencies are working on this case.

HM informs the media that the intelligence agencies are working on this case. — HMO India (@HMOIndia) December 29, 2014

12:50 pm: Rajnath Singh has said that the Centre is waiting for details about the incident from the State Government.

10:45 am: Union Ministers Sadananda Gowda and Ananth Kumar to meet Home Minister Rajnath Singh at 11 am

Shri Sadananda Gowda and Shri Ananth Kumar discussed with the HM the situation in the aftermath of the blast in Bengaluru last night — HMO India (@HMOIndia) December 29, 2014

10:40 am: Media reports claim ammonium nitrate, sharpness used in the explosive used in Bangalore.

10:30 am: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chaired a high-level meet in Bangalore attended by state Home Minister KJ George, City Police Commissioner MN Reddi and other officials.

10:20 am: Home Minister Rajnath Singh meets National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Intelligence Bureau chief Syed Asif Ibrahim, Home Secretary Anil Goswami and other top officials in Delhi to discuss Bangalore blast.

The blast had occurred around 8.30 pm, yesterday, near Coconut Grove, a famous restaurant on Church Street, close to Brigade Road in the heart of the city. The entire area is the most popular hangout zone in the tech city, especially on weekends.

Initial investigations suggest that it was a low-intensity explosion triggered by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

The dead woman was later identified as 37-year-old Bhavani. A native Chennai, she was on a visist to the city. The injured man, Karthik, is her relative.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the government would provide a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the woman and said best treatment would be provided to the injured.

City Police Commissioner MN Reddi said, "There has been threat perception in general, in view of the fact that there are festivities, in view of the fact that New Year's eve coming..."

He said there has been "some amount" of threat perception but that has been generic and there has been an alert in general.

Importantly, the blast came barely two weeks after threats of "revenge attacks" on social media following the arrest of Mehdi Masroor Biswas, who allegedly operated a Islamic State propaganda Twitter account.

The country's information technology hub was hit by bomb blasts in 2008, 2010 and 2013.

In serial blasts caused by IED at nine places in 2008, two persons were killed and 20 others injured.

Two bombs exploded outside the cricket stadium hours before an IPL match, leaving 15 persons injured in 2010. A third bomb was defused.

In 2013, a bomb blast outside the state BJP headquarters in the crowded Malleshwaram area just ahead of the Assembly polls had left 16 persons injured.

(With Agency Inputs)