NEW DELHI, Dec 7 (KUNA) -- Around 20 people, including four foreigners, were injured on Tuesday in a blast in the holy town of Varanasi in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi Television (NDTV) reported.
The blast took place when evening prayers were being performed along the banks of holy river Ganga, the TV said while flashing pictures showing broken structures and articles scattered all around in an area of 150-metre radius.
The injured were admitted to a nearby hospital, even as the number of casualties, if any, could not be ascertained yet, added the TV report.
There were thousands of Hindu devotees present at the blast site "Sheetla Ghat" to perform the regular evening prayers, but fortunately most of them had dispersed minutes before the blast took place, noted the report.
It further said that the "explosive material" was kept in a container on the stairs leading to the river Ganga.
Following the blast, all the communally-sensitive areas across Uttar Pradesh state have been put on high alert and police deployment has been increase to keep a strict vigil.
Confirming the blast, the state's ADG (Law and Order) Brij Lal reportedly said that the area has been cordoned off and an investigation has been launched to find out nature of the blast. Further reports are awaited. (end) py.hb KUNA 071743 Dec 10NNNN