Terror hits Temple city

Abstract

Background: The day was March 7, 2006, when Varanasi the Hindu holy city of Uttar Pradesh-India's biggest state was rocked by twin blasts at around 6.20 P.M. The first blast took place inside the famous Sankat Mochan temple. The sound of explosion was heard even inside writer's house which is 3 kilometers away. The bomb was of high intensity. Within few minutes a similar explosion in the lounge of the Varanasi Railway station followed. The impact of blast at railway station was so powerful that it left a deep crater on the platform. The area was splattered with blood and human remains. Method: The data for this study was collected from the dead bodies brought into the mortuary of our department. Results: Sixteen bodies came to the mortuary of our Department for autopsy. Six victims died due to shock and hemorrhage, two victims died due to coma, one victim died due to coma and hemorrhagic shock both and seven victims succumbed to death instantaneously as a result of blast effect to vital and visceral organs. Conclusion: Bombs were planted inside the pressure cooker. Forensic tests confirmed the use of ammonium nitrate and RDX in both explosions.