15 killed, 47 injured in bomb blast at Dilsukhnagar

Hyderabad/New Delhi, February 21 : At least 11 people were feared killed while 23 others were injured in two high-intensity bomb explosions in Dilsukhnagar area on Thursday evening. The unconfirmed sources have put the death toll at 15 and 47 injuries.

City Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma, who visited the spot, confirmed 11 causalities in the blast. He said 23 people were also injured due to the blasts. He said post-blast investigations team of NIA and other agencies have begun investigation. He said all the concerned departments have been put on alert.

According to reports, the first explosion took place near a tiffin centre near Konark Theater in Disukhnagar area killing seven people on the spot. Another blast has been reported near Venkatadiri Theatre in the same area.

Following explosion, people started running helter-skelter leading to stampede in which several people were injured. While 47 people have been reported injured, 22 of them have been sent to Osmania General Hospital for treatment. The other injured have been shifted to Yashoda Hospital and other nearby hospitals. The condition of a few injured is said to be serious.

Entire area has been cordoned off while the bomb and dog squads have been pressed into service.

Red alert have been sounded in Andhra Pradesh and other neighbouring States. The NSG commandoes have been rushed to the city.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana along with other ministers, have visited the spot. Senior police officials have also rushed to the spot.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde has convened a review meeting with the senior officials. The National Investigation Agency has sent the post-blast investigation team from New Delhi to Hyderabad while senior Intelligence Bureau officials too have been sent.

Talking to reporters in the national capital, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde did not rule terror attack and said that cycles were used for the blasts. He said that the Union Home Ministry was getting information about a possible attacks and all State were alerted about the State.

Shinde also said that the death toll due to blast could increase further. INN