17 blasts rock Ahmedabad India Within 15 minutes kill 26, injure 50

Saturday, July 26, 2008 at 7:49 pm under World Breaking news 17 blasts rock Ahmedabad India Within 15 minutes kill 26, injure 50

AHMEDABAD: Twenty-six persons were killed and 50 others injured in 17 blasts that hit Ahmedabad city of India on Saturday.

According to Indian media, the first blast occurred at 6:45 PM in Bapunagar, Ahmedabad followed by series of explosions in Mani Nagar, Sarkhej, Esanpur, Haksar, Narol Circle, Naroda Patiya and Hatkashwer areas.

The Indian Interior Ministry put the number of blasts at 12 but the Indian media said there were 17 blasts in which at least 26 persons were killed.

Media reports say the explosion took place in a CNG bus in Sarkhej while other blasts were caused by explosives strapped to bicycles or placed in lunch boxes.

Sources said, markets and other public places were targeted. But the bombs used in the explosions were of low intensity.

Some of the blasts occurred in the constituency from where Gujrat Chief Minister Narendar Modi was elected.

The blasts sent a wave of fear in Ahmedabad city and its railway station was sealed on security concerns.

An Indian TV channel claimed that it received an email from an organization ‘Indian Mujahideen’ four minutes before the blasts, which informed that soon explosions were about to occur. However, no other Indian TV reported such e-mail.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patel have strongly condemned the blasts.

Manmohan Singh has appealed to the people to remain calm and peaceful.