Heard loud explosion, saw dense smoke, say eyewitnesses of Bengaluru cafe blast

Ten people, including three staff members of outlet, suffer injuries in a lowintensity blast; cylinder and all kitchenrelated equipment are kept at the back of the restaurant, says owner Divya Raghavendra Rao, adding, someone had kept a bag near handwas

Like any other typical Friday afternoon, many had assembled at the Rameshwaram Cafe’s Brookfield outlet in Bengaluru for lunch when a lowintensity blast occurred.

While 10 people including three staff members of the cafe suffered injuries, CCTV footage showed the remaining customers and employees at the restaurant running in panic.

Sachin Lamani, a security guard with the cafe, said, “I was outside the restaurant and a little after 1 p.m., I heard a loud explosion inside. As I rushed inside, I saw smoke and fire near the hand wash area and there was a pungent, burning smell. I do not know how the blast occurred. I saw many people injured and helped them rush to a hospital”.

Panic hour

Suresh, an eyewitness who was near the restaurant when the blast happened, said he heard a huge explosion and rushed to the cafe.

“There was dense smoke and none of us could go in. It took us over 10 minutes to get inside the cafe. We saw at least eight people injured,” he said.

Speaking to presspersons, Shabarish, another eyewitness, said, “There was a loud sound around 1 p.m. which must have been audible within onekilometre radius. There was a lot of smoke around cafe. When I went and checked there, a few customers and employees were injured and bleeding. Some tiles were also broken. Some of us who had gathered there sent a few victims to the hospital.”

The restaurant, which was founded by Raghavendra Rao and Divya Raghavendra Rao, has been frequented by celebrities from across the country.

‘Bag found at site’

Speaking about Friday’s incident with The Hindu, Ms.

Rao, said, “It is very clear that the blast has not happened because of any cylinder or any other kitchenrelated equipment as none of them were near the blast site. All our equipment are at the back of the restaurant. There is only a handwash area with a sink, dustbin, and a stand to collect plates. Some people told us that someone came and kept a bag there and left, and the blast happened after that. We have found a bag that exploded at the spot.”

She also said that three of the staff members were injured in the incident, but the doctors had confirmed that they were out of danger.

Forecast for Saturday:

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Turn of events: A CCTV video grab shows the Rameshwaram Cafe before, during and after the lowintensity blast, in Bengaluru on Friday.