A Bengaluru techie's miraculous escape: A phone call saves him during Rameshwaram Cafe blast

A software professional in Bengaluru had a narrow escape in the Rameshwaram cafe blast that occurred on Friday. Moments before the explosion, he had stepped out to answer a phone call from his mother. Recounting the close call, the techie from Patna told NDTV that he is a regular visitor to the cafe and after taking dosa he was proceeding towards his usual seat when his mother rang up. As there was some bit of noise around, he stepped away a bit to speak with his mother.

Then there was a huge blast and black smoke all around, he said, adding that the noise was so loud that people were holding their ears. The software professional said that he will not hesitate to go the cafe again after it reopens and hopes there will be more security measures in place. The cafe, located at Whitefield's Brookfield area, is usually crowded with employees from nearby offices during the lunch hours.

A Press Trust of India report, citing an eyewitness, said that at the time of the explosion there were around 35-40 people at the eatery. The blast, occurring between 12:50 pm and 1 pm, resulted in injuries to 10 individuals, including hotel staff and customers, who are currently receiving medical treatment.

Bengaluru Rameshwaram cafe blast updates

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said on Saturday that the investigation into the blast at Rameshwaram cafe, which resulted in 10 injuries, has been transferred to the Central Crime Branch (CCB). No arrests have been made in connection with the incident, and Dayananda said that all the injured individuals are currently recuperating. Earlier, Press Trust of India report, citing police sources, said that four individuals were detained for questioning regarding the low-intensity bomb blast at a Bengaluru eatery, with authorities picking them up from Dharwad, Hubballi, and Bengaluru.

Meanwhile, security measures have been tightened throughout Bengaluru, particularly at key locations like Kempegowda International Airport, M Chinnaswamy cricket stadium, and transportation hubs, following the blast in Brookefield, situated in one of the city's IT corridors. Police suspect that the explosion might have been caused by an IED concealed in a bag with a timer.