NEW DELHI, Dec 7 (Bernama)-- A two-year-old girl was killed and at least 20 people, including foreigners, were injured in a low intensity blast along the holy Ganges river bank in Varanasi, said police Tuesday.
Uttar Pradesh Additional Director General of Police, Brij Lal told reporters at the scene that "several were injured and rushed to hospital".
Local media reported that initial probe revealed that improvised explosive devices planted in milk containers and placed on a staircase leading to the ghat, caused the explosion.
The blast occurred at about 6.30pm on Tuesday when hundreds of devotees gathered for the evening prayers along the Sheetla Ghat -- highly revered by Hindus and also a popular destination among foreign tourists in the city.
Police have yet to confirm whether it was a terrorist plot or who was behind the incident that also led to a stampede.
This was the second time the city has been threatened by an explosion because in March 2006, also on a Tuesday in the temple vicinity, 28 people were killed and about 100 injured in a series of blasts.
Today's incident comes after a lull since the chilling Pune German Bakery blast that killed nine people and injured 45 in the state of Maharashtra in February this year.
The old city of Varanasi is one of the holiest places in India, located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
India has since stepped up security in Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai following the medium-rated explosion.
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