By IANS,
Guwahati : At least 30 people were killed and more than 100 injured in a string of explosions in Assam Thursday, including four in the heart of the state’s main city of Guwahati, police and eyewitnesses said.
A police spokesman said there were 12 blasts in a span of about an hour beginning 11.20 a.m. – five in Guwahati, three in Barpeta district, three in Kokrajhar district and one in Bongaigaon district, all in western Assam.
“According to preliminary reports, at least 30 people were killed and more than 100 injured in the 12 blasts. More than 30 people are stated to be critical,” a senior police official said, requesting not to be named.
The four blasts in Guwahati took place at the busy Ganeshguri area, Panbazar, Fancy Bazar, and in Paltan Bazar.
“The area was teeming with people, officer goers, shoppers and vendors when a very big explosion took place,” Arindam Das, a witness said. “I saw at least six dead bodies, while more than 30 people were lying on the ground and bleeding,” Das said describing the blast scene at the Ganeshguri area in Guwahati.
Another blast took place in front of the district magistrate’s court in Guwahati, where five people were killed.
“Some of the bodies were charred beyond recognition,” Deputy Inspector General of Assam Police G.P. Singh said.
Ten people were killed in three blasts in crowded marketplaces in Kokrajhar district, about 250 km west of Guwahati.
“About 10 people were killed and more than 23 injured. Details are awaited,” police official A. Das said from Kokrajhar.
“In all, about 20 people were killed in the five blasts in Guwahati,” a senior police official said. No militant group has claimed responsibility for the explosions.
“We don’t know about the nature of explosives or who could be behind the attacks as we are now busy carrying out rescue operations,” police official G.P. Singh said.