One dead in bomb blasts at Indian train station–official

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters listen to India’s main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh at an election rally in Allahabad, India, Wednesday, April 30, 2014. With 814 million eligible voters, India is voting in phases over six weeks. AP

CHENNAI–Twin bombs planted on a train killed at least one person and wounded nine others in the main southern Indian city of Chennai on Thursday, a railway official said.

The explosion, which comes as India holds mammoth general elections, went off in a carriage of an overnight train from Bangalore as it pulled into Chennai central station shortly after 7:00 am (0130 GMT), official Rakesh Misra said.

A 22-year-old woman was killed when one of the devices which had been placed underneath her seat exploded, said Misra, general manager of the southern region for Indian Railways.

“At least two people have suffered grievous injuries and seven have minor injuries,” he told reporters in comments aired on Indian television.

“Civil police… are investigating what kind of bomb it was and why anyone could have placed the bomb.”

Security has been tightened across India as the country holds a six-week general election which has been marred by deadly violence in other parts of the country, including attacks by Maoist rebels.

Voting has already taken place in most major cities, including Chennai which went to the polls last week.