A woman died and three other people were injured in a low-intensity blast near a restaurant in the city centre, a top police official said.

“The woman, identified as Bhavani, who suffered head injury in the blast, succumbed in a private hospital, while the injured are undergoing treatment in the same hospital,” Commissioner of Police M.N. Reddi told reporters.

The blast occurred around 8.30 p.m. when an improvised explosive device (IED) went off near Coconut Grove restaurant on upscale Church Street parallel to M.G. Road, he said.

One of the injured, Karthik, was a relative of Bhavani, and had come from Chennai last week for the Christmas vacation.

“We have cordoned off the area for investigation by forensic experts,” Reddi said.

The IED was wrapped in a paper with a timer, as was discerned from the remnants at the spot.

As the incident occurred three days ahead of the New Year eve, the city has been put on high alert.

“We have stepped up vigil and intensified patrolling across the city to prevent any further incident in view of the New Year eve festivities,” Reddi said.