Mumbai: At least 17 persons were injured, three of them seriously, following an explosion at a popular food plaza in the crowded Mumbai Central station on December 6, police said.

Police suspect that the explosion occurred either after a gas cylinder burst or blast in the air-conditioner unit.

The injured, which include employees of the newly set up McDonald food plaza in the foyer of the station and customers, have been rushed to nearby Nair hospital, railway police sources said.

Railway police commissioner, Rakesh Maria, along with top officials have rushed to the spot and cordoned off the area after the explosion at around 5 pm.

Forensic experts, fire brigade personnel, a team of bomb disposal squad and two sniffer dogs were pressed into service to ascertain the cause of the explosion.

Local and long distance trains on Western Railway were suspended and Mumbai Central station evacuated following the explosion. Nearby commercial establishments also downed shutters immediately, the sources said.

The foyer of the Mumbai Central station, near the food plaza was strewn with shards of glass pieces, sending jitters among the already-nervous passengers, who have been travelling by public transport with great apprehension following Monday's (Dec 2) Ghatkopar bus blast, which killed two persons and injured 31 others.

PTI