13 die in Hyderabad twin blasts

Thirteen people were killed and 83 others injured when two blasts ripped through the busy Dilsukhnagar locality of Hyderabad on Thursday evening. Of the 12 men and one woman killed, the police has revealed the names of seven so far. The bombs went off about 150 metres apart, one opposite the busiest Dilsukhnagar bus station and another at a stall selling mirchi opposite Konark theatre and in front of the locally popular Anand Tiffins. The explosions were three minutes apart and the first bomb went off at 6.58 pm. The second blast was at 7.01 pm. Security forces reportedly found an unexploded bomb near a footbridge a few metres from the twin blast site. It was chaotic at the blast site with blood splashed all over. Witnesses said the bombs detonated with huge bangs, causing panic in the area. The injured, mostly passers-by, were crying for help even as people ran for shelter, confused and stunned. The area resembled a war zone with dozens of ambulances rushing in to shift the injured to hospitals. According to initial reports, bicycles were used to carry out the blasts though the authorities are yet to confirm the type of explosives used. The injured were rushed to Yashoda Hospital, Osmania General Hospital and other private hospitals in the area. Sources said many victims had sustained major injuries. The Saroornagar police said the locality, where many small businesses are situated, was very crowded with workers and employees returning home after work at the time of the blasts. The area was also full of devotees who had come to the nearby Sai Baba temple to offer prayers on Thursday. Large police contingents from the Hydera-bad and Cyberabad police commissionerates were rushed to the spot as soon as the news came in. The police and fire-fighting personnel carried out rescue operations, shifting the injured to ambulances and private vehicles. While NIA, NSG and IB teams have been rushed to the spot, a CLUES team, dog squads, and security experts were combing the blast sites looking for evidence. Andhra Pradesh CM N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, state police chief V. Dinesh Reddy and other high officials visited the spot. Hyderabad police commissioner Anurag Sharma appealed to people not to believe in rumours and to confirm them first with the city police. “We are on high alert. Security forces, including bomb squads, are checking suspected places in the city. If anybody finds anything suspicious, they should inform the police immediately,” he said.