By Xinhua
New Delhi : At least 34 people were killed and over 40 more injured as twin blasts rocked two places in Hyderabad, capital city of Indian southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh Saturday evening, Indian media quoted local police and officials as saying.
An explosion at a commercial area killed at least 24 people on Saturday evening, K. Jana Reddy, Home Minister of Andhra Pradesh told reporters after the explosion.
Almost at the same time, another blast took place at an auditorium at the government-run Lumbini Park near the state secretariat.
About 500 people in the auditorium were watching a laser show at Lumbini Park when the blasts occurred.
The local police said the blasts were meticulously planned and executed, and the blasts were caused by powerful explosives.
The powerful blasts are believed to have been planted in bags and triggered by a timer device, intelligence source told the New Delhi Television.
State Chief Minister Y.S.R. Reddy said it is a state of emergency and “this is a terrorist act.”
Meanwhile, officials called on the people not to be panic, saying it was a coward act.
The TV footage showed that the profusely bleeding injured were sent to a nearby hospital.
A red alert has been sounded in Hyderabad. Security has been tightened at the airport, railway stations, bus stations and shopping malls. Cinema halls have canceled their late night shows.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts, and expressed his deep concern. Meanwhile, Indian President Pratibha Patil and United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi also condemned the blasts.
Indian Home Ministry has confirmed that this is a terror attack and said there were similarities with the Mecca Masjid blasts in Hyderabad in May, when over a dozen people died in an explosion at a historic Mecca Masjid there.