Varanasi, Dec 7 (PTI): An explosion rocked the holy town of Varanasi here this evening leaving at least 20 including some foreign tourists injured.

IG, Varanasi, R.P Singh said on phone that the actual number of the injured and the cause of the blast was not immediately known. Official sources said the blast took place at Dashashwamedh ghat on the bank of the river Ganga at about 6:30 pm.

The blast took place when thousands of devotees and the foreign tourists had assembled at the ghat for having darshan of the Ganga Arti, police sources said. Sources said the injured, which included some foreigners also, have been rushed to the nearby hospital.

They said a high level meeting is currently on in Lucknow where senior offcials are working out a plan to contain any possible tension due to the explosion. ADG Brij Lal said seven injured and four have been hospitalised.

Some people have been injured due to the blast and some others due to the consequnet stampede which occured due to the collapse of the railing. The UP police has informed us that so far there is no report on death and we are waiting for the details, Secretary (Internal Security) U K Bansal said.

DIG Prem Prakash said among the injured was an Italian national. Brijlal said a team of experts has been despatched to Varanasi to ascertain the nature of the blast. "Our bomb disposal squad has reached the scene," he said.

Asked about the intensity of the blast, the ADGP said he could not comment at this stage.