Twin blasts rock Hyderabad; many feared dead; terror angle suspected
http://latestsnewsforyou.blogspot.com/2013/02/twin-blasts-rock-hyderabad-many-feared.html
DC Online
Hyderabad: Twenty two people were killed and over 50 injured Thursday night when at least three powerful serial blasts rocked a busy commercial hub of Hyderabad close to a crowded bus stand at Dilsukhnagar, sending Andhra Pradesh and the whole nation into high alert.
The blasts took place during the peak hour outside a roadside eatery near Konark cinema theatre in the locality resulting in a stampede-like situation with people trying to run for safety.
Doctors were treating the wounded, many with shrapnel pieces, at various hospitals around the area. The shrapnel pieces confirmed that the blast is of terrorist nature.
The serial blasts threw New Delhi’s security and intelligence apparatus into a tizzy because despite specific inputs of a possible terror strike in wake of the Afzal Guru’s hanging, subversive elements managed to trigger explosions in the city.
It has been revealed that three separate advisories were sent to states after the February 9 hanging. Two of the advisories were sent in the last 48 hours, warning of a “possible retaliation” by terror outfits.
The latest alerts were based on a detailed threat analysis carried out by security agencies, who had been closely monitoring activities of terrorist groups over the past one week.
Minutes after the blasts, Andhra Pradesh was put on high alert. Mumbai was put on Red Alert.
Meanwhile, the injured have been rushed to various hospitals by ambulances and police and bomb disposal squads swung into action and began searches.
According to reports, the first explosion took place near a tiffin centre near Konark Theatre in crowded Dilsukhnagar area killing seven people on the spot. Another blast has been reported near Venkatadiri Theatre in the same area.
It was in this area that a blast took place at a Sai Baba temple a few years back.
Following explosion, people started running helter-skelter leading to stampede in which several people were injured.
While 47 people have been reported injured, 22 of them have been sent to Osmania General Hospital for treatment. The other injured have been shifted to Yashoda Hospital and other nearby hospitals.
The condition of a few injured is said to be serious. Doctors said that a woman’s leg had to be amputated.
There were reports of few groups shouting slogans at the site of the blast. The blast comes a day ahead of Friday prayers.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Hyderabad Mayor Majid Hussain, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana along with other ministers have visited the spot.
Strongly condemning the blasts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said those responsible for the “dastardly” act would not go unpunished as he appealed for peace.
The entire area has been cordoned off while the bomb and dog squads have been pressed into service. Teams of National Security Guards (NSG) and National Investigation Agency were being rushed to Hyderabad. Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said a team of the Intelligence bureau was already at the site.
Due to the tension and confusion, there is a huge traffic jam in the area.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde too confirmed that for the last two days the Ministry had shared intelligence about possible explosions and the States had been informed accordingly.
He however said it was “too early” to say which group was behind the terror strike and the “inputs” were not specific to Hyderabad.
The MHA is likely to hand over the blast investigation to the National Investigation Agency.
“The two blasts happened within a radius of 100 meters and are similar to the explosion near Gokul Chat in the city a few years ago. We are trying to find out more details and the possibility of the death toll rising further cannot be ruled out,” the Home Minister said.
Intelligence sources said prima facie, it appeared to be that the twin explosions were carried out with help of a timer device since the bombs went off in quick succession. The fact that the bombs were placed in crowded areas during peak evening hours also goes on to prove that there must have been a detailed recee of the area and would have had local support, sources added.
Describing Hyderabad as a “soft target”, intelligence officials said, the city is known to have one of the largest networks of the now banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) whose cadre is said to be working for the Indian Mujahideen. The modus operandi and the nature of explosions are similar to the one engineered by IM in the past.
Emergency helpline number of state govt in Hyderabad: 040-27854771, 040-27853408, 9391351543
deccanchronicle.com
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| An injured person is taken to the Omini hospital Kothapet in Hyderabad. |
Hyderabad: Twenty two people were killed and over 50 injured Thursday night when at least three powerful serial blasts rocked a busy commercial hub of Hyderabad close to a crowded bus stand at Dilsukhnagar, sending Andhra Pradesh and the whole nation into high alert.
The blasts took place during the peak hour outside a roadside eatery near Konark cinema theatre in the locality resulting in a stampede-like situation with people trying to run for safety.
Doctors were treating the wounded, many with shrapnel pieces, at various hospitals around the area. The shrapnel pieces confirmed that the blast is of terrorist nature.
The serial blasts threw New Delhi’s security and intelligence apparatus into a tizzy because despite specific inputs of a possible terror strike in wake of the Afzal Guru’s hanging, subversive elements managed to trigger explosions in the city.
It has been revealed that three separate advisories were sent to states after the February 9 hanging. Two of the advisories were sent in the last 48 hours, warning of a “possible retaliation” by terror outfits.
The latest alerts were based on a detailed threat analysis carried out by security agencies, who had been closely monitoring activities of terrorist groups over the past one week.
Minutes after the blasts, Andhra Pradesh was put on high alert. Mumbai was put on Red Alert.
Meanwhile, the injured have been rushed to various hospitals by ambulances and police and bomb disposal squads swung into action and began searches.
According to reports, the first explosion took place near a tiffin centre near Konark Theatre in crowded Dilsukhnagar area killing seven people on the spot. Another blast has been reported near Venkatadiri Theatre in the same area.
It was in this area that a blast took place at a Sai Baba temple a few years back.
Following explosion, people started running helter-skelter leading to stampede in which several people were injured.
While 47 people have been reported injured, 22 of them have been sent to Osmania General Hospital for treatment. The other injured have been shifted to Yashoda Hospital and other nearby hospitals.
The condition of a few injured is said to be serious. Doctors said that a woman’s leg had to be amputated.
There were reports of few groups shouting slogans at the site of the blast. The blast comes a day ahead of Friday prayers.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Hyderabad Mayor Majid Hussain, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana along with other ministers have visited the spot.
Strongly condemning the blasts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said those responsible for the “dastardly” act would not go unpunished as he appealed for peace.
The entire area has been cordoned off while the bomb and dog squads have been pressed into service. Teams of National Security Guards (NSG) and National Investigation Agency were being rushed to Hyderabad. Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde said a team of the Intelligence bureau was already at the site.
Due to the tension and confusion, there is a huge traffic jam in the area.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde too confirmed that for the last two days the Ministry had shared intelligence about possible explosions and the States had been informed accordingly.
He however said it was “too early” to say which group was behind the terror strike and the “inputs” were not specific to Hyderabad.
The MHA is likely to hand over the blast investigation to the National Investigation Agency.
“The two blasts happened within a radius of 100 meters and are similar to the explosion near Gokul Chat in the city a few years ago. We are trying to find out more details and the possibility of the death toll rising further cannot be ruled out,” the Home Minister said.
Intelligence sources said prima facie, it appeared to be that the twin explosions were carried out with help of a timer device since the bombs went off in quick succession. The fact that the bombs were placed in crowded areas during peak evening hours also goes on to prove that there must have been a detailed recee of the area and would have had local support, sources added.
Describing Hyderabad as a “soft target”, intelligence officials said, the city is known to have one of the largest networks of the now banned Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) whose cadre is said to be working for the Indian Mujahideen. The modus operandi and the nature of explosions are similar to the one engineered by IM in the past.
Emergency helpline number of state govt in Hyderabad: 040-27854771, 040-27853408, 9391351543
deccanchronicle.com
