CHANDIGARH, India: An explosion targeted the headquarters of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chandigarh, damaging part of the office building and triggering panic in the surrounding area, local officials said.
According to local police, cited by Indian media, the blast targeted the BJP’s office in Chandigarh, the capital of the northern Indian state of Punjab.
The explosion caused structural damage to the party’s office, though authorities have not confirmed the extent of casualties.
Security officials cordoned off the site and restricted access, while refraining from sharing details of any casualties with the media, according to Indian media reports.
Police teams rushed to the scene shortly after a loud explosion was heard.
Chandigarh’s Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) said the law enforcement agencies immediately responded to the explosion, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine the nature and cause of the incident.
The blast led to scenes of panic in the area, with residents gripped by fear as emergency personnel secured the surroundings.
BJP national spokesperson RP Singh said Punjab state party president Ashwani Sharma could have been the target.
He posted on X: “A shocking and deeply concerning development — a bomb blast outside the BJP Punjab office in Chandigarh.
A shocking and deeply concerning development a bomb blast outside the BJP Punjab office in Chandigarh.
What makes this even more serious is that @AshwaniSBJP state BJP Working President had been present at the same office for the last two days and had just left for Delhi for a… pic.twitter.com/YmhyUGMCaA— RP Singh National Spokesperson BJP (@rpsinghkhalsa) April 1, 2026
The explosion “raises serious questions about security, intelligence coordination, and the overall law and order situation in Punjab. Those responsible must be identified and brought to justice at the earliest. There can be zero tolerance for such acts of terror,” the post read.
