In Surat, a live bomb was defused near a hospital while two cars were found laden with explosives. One of the cars was seized from Punagam area on the outskirts of Surat city. Powder material, gelatin sticks and shrapnel were recovered from the car bearing the number plate GJ-6-CD 3569. Vadodara Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthana said the registration number was fake.

Police located another car with explosives at Heerabagh locality of Surat, Police Commissioner R M S Brar said, while a live bomb was found near Nupur hospital in New Citylight area of Surat.

In Ahmedabad, police defused a live bomb found lying in a garbage can in Amraiwadi area. Officials said preliminary investigations revealed that ammonium nitrate was used as an explosive material, while LPG cylinders were used to increase the impact of the blast at Civil Hospital. While initially it was suspected that a suicide bomber carried out the hospital blast, police have ruled this out saying initial investigations showed the bomb was kept in a car at the trauma centre.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ashish Bhatia said the investigations had been handed over to the Crime Branch.

The Army conducted flag marches in the sensitive Madhupura and Asarva areas of Ahmedabad. “As a precautionary measure, the Army has been called out,” said Additional Commissioner of Police Mohan Jha.

The two days of mayhem, which saw more than 25 explosions in Bangalore and Ahmedabad, have brought further embarrassment for Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, who has been heavily criticised for not doing enough to prevent terrorist attacks.

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