AMRITSAR BLAST: WOMAN VOLUNTEER, EYEWITNESSES NARRATE THE INCIDENT

Nearly 200 devotees attending a religious congregation at 'Nirankari Bhavan' in Amritsar rushed for safety after unexpectedly being pushed into chaos on Sunday, when two men on a motorcycle hurled a hand grenade in an apparent terror attack at the premises, from where messages of peace and spirituality are sent out, eyewitnesses said.

Recalling the scenes that followed the attack on "Nirankaris", the eyewitnesses said they were panicked, shocked & scrambled through a thick blanket of smoke.

They said it was a usual Sunday congregation at the Bhavan on the outskirts of Amritsar city, until the bombers struck.

"Each Sunday, I do 'sewa' at the Bhavan. I was on duty near the stage when I saw a person, who appeared young, with his face covered, throw something and run. The next thing I remember is that there was a blast, smoke all over and everyone ran around for their lives,” Simranjeet Kaur told reporters outside the premises.

A man said his daughter was deputed at one of the entry gates to frisk women devotees visiting the place.

"She told me that two people came there and pointed a pistol at her after which she panicked. The next thing she knows that people were rushing out in fear after a grenade was hurled inside," he said.

A devotee who was inside the Bhavan said, "I saw blood at the spot after the blast".