Thursday, July 28 2005 19:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Railway Minister Laloo Prasad today (July 28, 2005) said he would order a probe into the Patna-Delhi Shramjeevi Express blast, which left one dead and 22 injured and take stringent punitive action against the officials for the 'lapse' in detecting explosives carried in the train in violation of safety norms.

"I will get the incident thoroughly inquired into and punish the officials found guilty of failure to detect the explosive in the train", Prasad said when media persons approached him.

Without ruling out involvement of naxalites in the blast, Prasad said, "Who was responsible for the explosion could be known only after a thorough inquiry." Stating that he would be leaving by a special train for the spot later in the evening, Prasad said all the injured were undergoing treatment at a hospital in Badlapur.

He thanked the local villagers for extending their help in transporting the injured passengers to the hospital.

Referring to recovery of 22 bombs by security men from the bogie of Gaya-Dhanbad train earlier this afternoon, Prasad said four persons were taken into custody in this connection.