Metro workers dig out two bombs in Mumbai

Workers digging for Metro work in Mumbai Central were left baffled by the two crude bombs they found buried in the ground on Wednesday evening.

While one bomb exploded even as the workers were digging, the other was defused by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad.

The bombs were of low intensity and it is being probed who had hidden them, why and when.

The explosives were found about two metres below the ground in front of Mumbai Central State Transport Corporation depot. The workers immediately informed the police and a team of Nagpada police officer was rushed to the spot along with a Bomb Disposal and Detection Squad (BDDS) team.

"There used to be a toilet and a shop near the spot earlier," said a highly-placed police officer. "Someone must have hidden it there. While one bomb was found to be live, and was defused using controlled detonation by the BDDS unit, the other one exploded when the drilling machine hit it. These were low intensity bombs and at least a decade old." The officer refused to divulge any more details.

What has left the police scratching their heads is the location of the bombs. "There have been instances where we have found live ammunition from the World War II in the dock and surrounding areas of the city. This is definitely not from Army ammunition," sources said.