UP cabinet minister critically injured in blast

NEW DELHI: An Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Nand Gopal Nandi was critically injured in a blast outside his residence Muthi Ganj in Allahabad district on Monday, police said.

Nand Gopal Nandi, the minister for institutional finance, has been admitted to the Jivan Jyoti Hospital.

According to a Times Now report, a motorcycle was parked outside his residence and exploded as he stepped out. Two security guards were killed and five others were also injured. The incident took place at around 11 am.

Inspector General of Police SK Singh, who visited the explosion site, said that the blast was "quite powerful" and had damaged a number of other vehicles and walls of buildings located in the congested street where Gupta's residence is located, a news agency reported.

He said investigations were on to ascertain the motive behind the blast and if the bomb was a crude one or an explosive device triggered by a remote control.

(With input from agencies)