One of the worst terror attacks in the recent past in India
that happened earlier today in Dilsukhnagar of Hyderabad, may see growing casualties.
While the death count stands at 15, unconfirmed reports put the number of those injured as over 80, and given that some of them are in a critical condition, the death toll may rise further.
However, City Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma, who visited the spot of the twin blasts, confirmed only 11 causalities in the blast. He also said that only 23 people were injured.
He added that the post-blast investigations teams of NIA and other agencies have begun investigation. He said all the concerned departments have been put on alert.
According to reports, the first explosion took place near a tiffin centre near Konark Theater in Disukhnagar area at around 6:58pm, killing 7 people on the spot. Another blast has been reported near Venkatadri theatre in the same area in another 5-10 minutes.
Following the explosion, people started running helter-skelter, leading to a stampede in which several people were injured.
22 of the injured were sent to the Osmania General Hospital for treatment. The others were shifted to Yashoda Hospital and other nearby hospitals. The condition of some of the injured is said to be serious.
As mentioned earlier, the entire area has been cordoned off, and bomb and dog squads have been pressed into service.
Red alerts have been sounded in Andhra Pradesh and other neighbouring states. NSG commandoes have been rushed to the city.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana, along with other ministers, visited the spot. Senior police officials have also rushed to the spot.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has convened a review meeting with the senior officials. The National Investigation Agency has sent the post-blast investigation team from New Delhi to Hyderabad while senior Intelligence Bureau officials too have been sent.
Talking to reporters in the national capital, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde did not rule out a terror attack, and said that cycles were used for the blasts.
He said that the Union Home Ministry was getting information about possible attacks, and all states had been alerted about the threats.
Shinde said, too, that the death toll due to the blast could increase further. (INN)