Blast outside Delhi High Court – live updates

Update: Bar & Bench spoke to the President Delhi High Court Bar Association, Amarjit Singh Chandhiok on the security measures to be adopted since this is the second time in four months that a blast has occurred at Delhi High Court..A high intensity explosion took place today outside Gate 5 of Delhi High Court at around 10.15 AM, according to media reports. It is reported that 9 people have died and 45 have been injured and have been rushed to the nearby RML and Safdarjung Hospitals..Emergency lines: RML – 011-23348200, AIIMS – 011-26588700.A high intensity explosion took place today outside Gate 5 of Delhi High Court at around 10.15 AM, according to media reports. The injured have been rushed to the nearby RML and Safdarjung Hospitals..Live Updates.7.00 PM Compensation.The Delhi government announced that Rs 4 lakh would be given as compensation for families who have lost adult members and Rs 1.5 lakh to families who have lost minors. The seriously injured will get Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 will be given to those who sustained minor injuries. Those permanently incapacitated in the blast will get Rs 2 lakh..6.45 PM – CNNIBN – “Even the metal detectors and scanners were not functioning……”.“What made planting of the bomb in one of the most high security area an easy job was the fact that there were no CCTV cameras installed at the gate. Even the metal detectors and scanners were not functioning making the task of checking and frisking hundreds of litigants, lawyers and visitors a tough job for the security personnel..Unlike most of the recent bomb blasts, the terror strike at the High Court was carried out in the morning and the day was also carefully chosen as Wednesday is one of the heaviest days of court business because it is the day when Public Interest Litigations (PILs) are filed”.6.00 PM – Police release sketch of the suspects in the blast. One of the suspects is around 26 years of age and 5″9′ tall, while the second suspect is believed to be around 50 years..4.00 PM – The Supreme Court is considering Parliament type security and has asked Abhishek Manu Singhvi to submit a report on the costs associated with increasing security similar to that of the Parliament. The CJI is also scheduled to visit the blast site..Delhi High Court Bar Council president Rakesh Tikku speaking to Economic Times said: “The Home Minister visited the blast site and he assured that better arrangements will maintained here, like installation of CCTV cameras, the lack of which is a major setback of such mishaps. He visited the main blast site and insured for major security beef up,” he added. “Terrorist attack, either outside or inside the gate of high court is matter of concern for police. Can’t slam any minister over it,” Tikku said..2.30 PM – Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI) has taken responsibility for todays blasts. 10 people have been killed and 65 others injured..HuJI email sent from harkatuljihadi2011@gmail.com read as follows – “We owe the responsibility of todays blasts at high court delhi….. our demand is that Afzal Guru’s death sentence should be repealed immediately else we would target major high courts & THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA”.1.34 PM – Bar & Bench spoke to the President Delhi High Court Bar Association, Amarjit Singh Chandhiok on the security measures to be adopted since this is the second time in four months that a blast has occurred at Delhi High Court. Chandhiok said, “We had taken security measures after May 25 blast took place. We had installed CCTV cameras and other security equipments but the point that we still need to look at is whether we should now look at people coming to court without carrying anything as this man who planted the bomb today was carrying a briefcase”.He said, “We have to take many other precautions. We need to train our countrymen today on this position because these things are getting out of hand and I don’t think even if we post more security personnel everywhere, we will be able to succeed. We need to bring discipline in ourselves which is the most important part. Today everyone is concerned and shouting but after 5-10 days the enthusiasm will die down. We need to now seriously look at these matters and need to be alert every day and we just cannot be just casual about it”.Chandhiok added, “A larger issue has arisen now so we will now look at it and tackle it from a different angle altogether”..1.15 PM – 10 dead and 50 people injured. 6 people are supposed to be critically ill..CNN – IBN: I saw the bomber outside Delhi HC: eyewitness.12.15 AM – Economic Times reporting on Supreme Court – Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice H.L. Dattu were informed about the explosion by senior counsel Ram Jethmalani..Justice Singhvi said: “It is very difficult to be mechanical and say that life will go on. Loss of human life is loss to the nation.”.11.55 AM – A high intensity explosion took place today outside Gate 5 of Delhi High Court at around 10.15 AM, according to media reports. It is reported that 9 people have died and 45 have been injured and have been rushed to the nearby RML and Safdarjung Hospitals..Delhi Attack captured on mobile.The blast happened at the time when maximum number of people is entering the Court to attend the court proceedings. The cause of explosion is not known yet. It is rumoured that the bomb was planted in a briefcase and was left outside Gate 5 where the litigants get the passes made to enter the High Court complex..The High Court is being evacuated right now. The disaster management teams have been rushed to the High Court..According to media reports, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will take on the investigations of the blast. The Delhi police will assist the NIA..This is the second time the Delhi High Court has seen a blast. In May, a low intensity explosion took place in Delhi High Court parking near Gate no.7 injuring two persons, but the police are yet to crack the case..Eye witness account of the blasts.CNN IBN.CNN IBN – 2