Serial blasts rocked a busy commercial area of Hyderabad on Thursday evening killing at least 14 people and injuring over 100. The injured have been rushed to Yashoda Hospital and Osmania Hospital.
Two simultaneous blasts hit Dilsukhnagar at around 7:00 pm on Thursday.
The explosions were suspected to have been carried out by well-trained people with an aim to cause huge damage. Police are yet to ascertain the nature of the blasts.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has rushed its team to the sites of the blasts and the Andhra Pradesh state has been put on high alert. Cellphone networks were temporarily suspended in Dilsukhnagar area to avoid spreading of rumours and subsequent panic among people.
Union Home Minsiter Sushilkumar Shinde said that he had informed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh about the serial blasts in Hyderabad.
Chief Minister of the state Kiran Kumar Reddy called for an emergency meeting following the blasts. He also visited the scene of the explosions to take stock of the situation.
"I have information about the blasts. The area has been cordoned off. Investigation has started," Union Home Minister Secretary RK Singh told reporters.
This is the second major blast to have hit the city after the 2007 twin blasts in which 42 people were killed.
PM Condemns The Bomb Blasts, Appeals For Calm
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has strongly condemned the bomb blasts in Hyderabad. While expressing shock and grief over the loss of lives in the blasts, the Prime Minister has appealed to the public to remain calm and maintain peace. He has also directed the central agencies to extend all possible help to the Andhra Pradesh state authorities in relief operations.
"This is a dastardly attack, the guilty will not go unpunished", the Prime Minister added.
The Prime Minister has also sanctioned ex-gratia from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to the tune of Rs.2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased persons and Rs.50,000/- each to the persons seriously injured in bomb blasts.
