20 killed, 60 hurt in twin blasts in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: At least 20 persons were killed and nearly 60 injured in two powerful near-simultaneous blasts at a crowded park and a popular eating joint here on Saturday evening. Eight persons died when an explosion ripped through an auditorium in Lumbini Park in the heart of the city when a laser show was on, police said.

The blast occurred at about 7.45 pm when the laser show had just started. So powerful was the blast that some of bodies were flung into the air and scattered over the area.

In another blast around the same time at Gokul Chat Bhandar at Kothi area, at least 12 persons were killed and scores were injured. The police cordoned off the areas and sounded a red alert across the city and conducted searches at railway stations and bus depots.

The profusely bleeding injured were admitted to Osmania Hospital, Mediciti and other hospitals. There was confusion about what exactly had caused the explosion at the eatery after initial reports said it was due to a cylinder blast.

However, police suspect that going by the impact and high casualties, it could have been triggered by RDX.

The twin blasts today came three months after the powerful explosion at Mecca Masjid here in may last. Chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy held an emergency meeting with top police officials and soon afterwards rushed to the spot.