Hyderabad: At least 15 people are feared to have been killed in a series of explosions on Thursday evening which took place in Dilsukh Nagar bus stand area of Hyderabad. Two explosions took place in the Andhra Pradesh capital at around 7 pm. Following the blasts, the area was cordoned off. At least 40 people sustained injuries in the blasts.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde confirmed that at least 11 people had died in the two blasts. Addressing mediapersons in Delhi, the Home Minister said that while eight people had died in the first explosion, at least three people for killed in the second blast. He further said that the death toll was expected to rise.

The Home Minister also said that the government had information that there would be blasts, but it was not clear which city would be targeted.

The blasts took place in a crowded area, injuring at least 40 people, who were immediately rushed to nearby hospitals
Live: At least 15 killed in two blasts in Hyderabad’s Dilsukh Nagar

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also condemned the blasts. The Prime Minister also sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each to next of relative of those killed in the incident, and Rs 50,000 each to those seriously injured. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi also condemned the blasts and expressed her sorrow.

While one of the blasts took place near Venkatadri theatre, the second one occurred near Konark theatre. According to police, while the first bomb was placed on a motorcycle, the second bomb might have been kept inside a tiffin box.

Police are yet to ascertain the number of casualties and nature of the explosions. Following the serial explosions in the state capital, high alert was sounded across Andhra Pradesh, and several cities across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said that at least three blasts have taken place in the Andhra Pradesh capital but the site of the third explosion is yet to be ascertained. The NIA also rushed its team to the sites where the blasts occurred.

While some of those who got injured were rushed to Osmania Hospital, others were taken to some other nearby hospitals.

Reacting to the incident, TRS leader Kiran Rao said the situation in the Andhra Pradesh capital was very chaotic. “This is not a time to have political divisions…this is an attack on our country and democracy, we all are together,” said Kiran Rao.

Dilsukh Nagar, the area were the incident took place is a crowded area in Hyderabad, and one of the main commercial areas of the city. Gaddianaram market in Dilsukh Nagar is the biggest in Andhra Pradesh. The blast took place near the main bus stand near Hyderabad-Mumbai highway.

Referring to the serial blasts, Union Home Secretary RK Singh said IG NIA and probe team of NSG is being flown from Delhi. He said that high alert has been issued in Delhi, Mumbai and several other states. He said that the officials would leave for Hyderabad by a special BSF plane.