Bomb blasts in Hyderabad: 15 killed, 119 injured

Mangaloretoday/NDTV

Hyderabad, Feb 21, 2013: Two bombs exploded in a crowded area of Hyderabad yesterday, killing 15 people and injuring 119. The blasts took place within five minutes of each other just after 7 pm on Thursday at two sites just 100 metres apart. The bombs, triggered by Improvised Explosive Devices or IEDs, were placed on bicycles near a small restaurant, close to two cinemas and a bus stand in Dilsukhnagar area. 

 

13 of the 15 people killed have been identified. Among the dead are two MBA students and a young man who had appeared for a police exam. Many of the injured are also students and other young people.

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who visited the blast site today, said yesterday that intelligence alerts about a possible terror attack had been received and were shared with state governments over the last 48 hours. He however added that there was no information specific to Hyderabad. He reiterated this at a press conference in Hyderabad today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the "dastardly" attack and said the "guilty will not go unpunished." Dr Singh has announced Rs. two lakh as compensation for the kin of each of the victims.

Eight of the 14 people killed have been identified, the police said. Among the dead were two MBA students, they added. "Improvised Explosive Devices were used in the two bomb blasts which were acts of terror and were aimed at causing maximum damage," Andhra Pradesh DGP V Dinesh Reddy said last night.

Hours after the blasts, the police were struggling to clear massive crowds so crucial evidence could be collected.

Late on Thursday night, hundreds of people were packed into the congested lanes of Dilsukhnagar, causing concerns that remnants of explosives, which could help identify the group behind the terror strike, would be lost or destroyed.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy appeared on local television and urged those who live near Dilsukhnagar not to visit the site of the explosions. He said the area must be kept "sterile."

National capital Delhi, Mumbai and other major cities in the country have been put on high alert after serial blasts in Hyderabad. Security has been stepped up in sensitive areas, and railway and bus stations.

In 2007, twin blasts in the city killed 40 people. So far, the second test match between India and Australia at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Hyderabad on March 2 has not been rescheduled.