Four killed as shell in metal scrap explodes in Patiala

Four people, including a woman, were killed and three others injured in this Punjab town on Monday evening, as an unexploded shell in a heap of scrap exploded, police said.

Four people, including a woman, were killed and three others injured in this Punjab town on Monday evening, as an unexploded shell in a heap of scrap exploded, police said.

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A woman was trying to split open the old shell with a hammer at the shop of a scrap dealer in the Lakkar Mandi area of the town when it exploded, killing her and three others.

The three injured were immediately rushed to the Rajindra Government Medical College and Hospital in Patiala.

Police officials ruled out any terrorist angle into the explosion, based on preliminary findings. They added that further investigations were in progress.

Senior police and district officials rushed to the spot on learning about the accident.

Patiala is 90 km from Chandigarh.