A 25-year-old man from Uttar Pradesh was killed in an explosion near West Bengal’s Madhyamgram railway station in the North 24 Parganas district.

The incident occurred around 1 am on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday as the victim, Sachchidananda Mishra, was walking with a bag in front of Madhyamgram High School. CCTV footage reportedly shows the bag exploding, seriously injuring him. He was rushed to Barasat Hospital but died shortly after.

Upon receiving news of the blast, police from the Madhyamgram police station, including Barasat District’s Additional Superintendent of Police Atish Biswa and Barasat SDPO Vidyagar Ajink Anant, arrived at the scene. Residents said, “Such an incident has never happened in Madhyamgram before.”

The police are currently investigating how the man acquired the bag and what his motive was. Officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) also went to the hospital on Monday to investigate.

Despite initial suspicions of a bomb, police said they so far have found “only a mobile charger, some electronic gadgets and clothes” in the deceased youth’s bag. A Bomb Disposal Squad was sent to the scene, fearing more explosives might be present. The Additional Superintendent of Police of Barasat told mediapersons that there is “no reason to panic.”