New Delhi, Mar 27, IRNA – At least Fifteen Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were Tuesday killed in a landmine blast trigerred by suspected Naxalites in Pushtola district of Maharashtra state

The troops were reportedly travelling in a bus and were going from Pushtola to Gatta for an operational duty when the blast took place killing them on-the-spot, pti reported quoting CRPF officials.

CRPF Chief K Vijay Kumar is on a tour of Maharashtra and was in Gadchiroli area after he started from Nagpur this morning, they said, adding he was now on his way to the attack spot.

The CRPF officials said the casualty and injured figures could increase as a reinforcement team has been rushed to the area.

The troops belonging to the 192nd battalion of the force were deployed there.

According to police in Nagpur, several others were injured when the Naxalites blew up the bus carrying them.

Preliminary reports received in the office of Inspector General (IG) (Operations) Sunil Ramanand said the incident occurred near Pustola village on Karwafa-Fulbodi Gutta road, about 4 km from Gadchiroli, around noon.

Combing of the area has already begun, they said.

In Mumbai, where the state legislature is in session, Home Minister R R Patil is expected to make a statement in the Assembly on the attack.

'I am gathering information and will make a statement in the House,' Patil told reporters.