Third explosive device defused

 
The third explosive device was found in a plastic bag near Gate No 8, a police spokesperson told reporters.

The explosive device was found as police were sanitising the stadium after the first explosion at around 3.15 pm, 45 minutes before the scheduled start of the match, at Gate No 12B and another at Anil Kumble circle, less than half-a-km from the stadium, the official said.

Soon after the blast, police closed all the gates to the stadium and were a harried lot, answering questions from the increasingly restless fans on the reasons for not allowing them in.

Players of both the teams were asked to return to their dressing rooms till police gave the go ahead for the match, which began at 5 pm after an hour’s delay.