Mehta passed away at Jehangir Hospital in the early hours of Wednesday morning. According to hospital sources, Mehta, who was from Delhi, suffered 60 percent burns. Another two people who sustained serious injuries in the blast are in critical condition at another hospital.
Meanwhile, police were not able to obtain important clues from CCTV footage obtained from a five-star hotel opposite the German Bakery where the blast occurred. The footage only shows two men entering the German Bakery, said police sources.
Police have continued detaining and questioning suspects. Nothing constructive has emerged so far. According to reports, the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested four Kashmiri youths in connection with the blast in Happi town in Karnataka's Bellary district Wednesday afternoon. The four youths were selling Kashmiri handicrafts at Virapura area, which is frequented by foreign tourists.
The Maharashtra government has also laid out measures to tackle future terrorist attacks. Intelligence reports state that terrorists may bomb the prestigious four-kilometer Bandra-Worli Sealink. Police have beefed up security on the sea link and are to set up barricades and equip security agencies with mobile jammers, high-tech security gadgets and speedboats.
Security is also to be beefed up at temples and roads leading to oil terminals will be closed for public use, a state Home Ministry official said.
In another development, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray who had threatened not to allow Australian cricketers to come to Mumbai and Maharashtra made a u-turn on Wednesday.
In an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece, Saamna, on Wednesday, Thackeray retracted his threat, saying his party would not oppose the Australian cricketers.
According to sources in the state government, Thackeray went on the back foot after State Chief Minister Ashok Chavan gave assurances to give the cricketers full protection.
