Two minor-intensity bomb blasts today rocked the Chennai Central Railway station claiming one life and leaving 14 others injured. The police detained a suspect and he was being questioned.
A 22-year-old woman passenger, identified as Swathi, bound for Guntur via Vijaywada, was killed in the explosions. It occurred in the S4 and S5 coaches of Bangalore -Guwahati train in quick succession.

The injured, including two grievously hurt, have been rushed to the state-run Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. Doctors said they were out of danger.Most of the injured belong to other states. Students who were to participate in a Karate competition were also among the injured.

The train arrived from Bangalore at the Railway station, at about 7.05 AM, and the explosions occurred at about 7.15 AM.

Police rushed to the spot and cordoned off the entire area.

Tamil Nadu DGP K Ramanujam said a special investigation team would investigate the blasts and added that Chennai was not the target.
He said police had no immediate information on who was responsible for the explosion.

Railway Minister M Mallikarjun Kharge, expressing shock over the incident, announced one lakh rupees ex-gratia to the family of the woman killed in the explosion.

He said 25,000 rupees will be given to those seriously injured and 5,000 rupees to those with minor injuries.
Kharge said the Railway will bear the entire treatment expenses of the injured.

Commissioner Railway Safety (southern circle) will conduct an inquriy into the incident, a Railway Spokesperson said.
The incident comes in the wake of the arrest of Mohammed Zakir Hussain a Srilankan who was arrested by the Tamilnadu Police yesterday. He was suspected to have links with the ISI and had allegedly conducted a reconnaisance mission as part of a conspiracy to attack foreign missions in South India.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has orderd a CB-CID probe into explosions.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh has condemned the Chennai blasts . In a measage Dr Singh said the act highlights desperation and cowardice of those responsible.
Offering condolence to the kin of the deceased and sympathy for those injured, the Prime Minister appealed for peace and expressed confidence that the people of the country will stand united against these attempts to disturb peace and harmony.

He said the centre will provide the state government with all the support needed to bring those responsible to justice.

Meanwhile the Home Ministry has send a team of the National Investigation Agency to Chennai to assist the local police in the probe . Talking to AIR Home Ministry spokesperson said the Ministry has sought a report on the blast from the State Government