One bomb exploded outside a cinema hall and another at a bus stand. Both bombs were suspected to have been kept on bicycles within about 100-150 m of each other. Witnesses said that there was a stampede-like situation after the blasts as people fled the area.
Reacting to the serial explosions in Hyderabad, Union Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said in Delhi that eight people were killed in the first blast and three in the second, adding that the toll could rise. Shinde also said that the Centre had some intelligence about the possibility of an attack and it had been passed on to the states even though the information was not specific.
Police in Hyderabad said that the victims were being rushed to nearby hospitals and bomb disposal squads had been sent to the area. A NSG team was also being rushed to the city in a BSF aircraft, Union Home secretary R K Singh said. The local unit of the NIA was also reaching the spots, officials added.
The blasts are the first in the country since the four low-intensity serial explosions in the heart of Pune on August 1 last year. Only one man was injured in those crude bomb blasts.
Hyderabad was last targeted on August 25, 2007, when two near-simultaneous explosions killed 42 people and injured more than 50. Those explosions took place at Lumbini amusement park and Gokul Chat Bhandar.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condemned the blasts and said those behind the dastardly act would not go unpunished. He appealed for peace and calm in the aftermath of the attack and announced that the families of those killed would be paid Rs 2 lakh and the injured would get Rs 50,000.
Dilsukhnagar had been targeted in November 2002 as well when a bomb was set off in front of the Sri Sai Baba temple there. That bomb was reported to have been packed in a tiffin box and placed on a scooter.
Sources in Delhi said that a team of officers from the NIA, NSG and CFSL is being flown to Hyderabad to join investigations and examine the sites of the blasts.
Guilty won't go unpunished, says PM on Hyderabad blasts
New Delhi: Strongly condemning the blasts in Hyderabad, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight said those responsible for the 'dastardly' act would not go unpunished as he appealed for peace.
Singh sanctioned Rs 2 lakh each to next of kin of those killed in the blasts and Rs 50,000 each to those seriously injured from the PM's Relief Fund.
The meeting of the Union Cabinet, which was in progress when the blasts took place, was informed about the incident.
"The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has strongly condemned the bomb blasts in Hyderabad. While expressing shock and grief over the loss of lives in the blasts, the Prime Minister has appealed to the public to remain calm and maintain peace," an official statement said.
"This is a dastardly attack, the guilty will not go unpunished," the Prime Minister added.
He has directed the central agencies to extend all possible help to the Andhra Pradesh state authorities in relief operations.
Blasts in India: an overview
New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) Following is the chronology of blasts in India since 2005:
Pune, Aug 1, 2012: Four allegedly coordinated low-intensity explosions at Jangli Maharaj road. One person was injured.
New Delhi, Sep 7, 2011: One killed and 24 injured in a blast outside the Delhi High Court.
Mumbai, July 13, 2011: Three blasts shook the Mumbai killing 26 people and injuring 130 others.
Varanasi, Dec 7, 2010: Two-year-old girl killed and 25 others injured in a blast which takes place between the Dashashwamedh and Shitla ghats on the river Ganga.
Pune, Feb 13, 2010: 17 people killed and over 60 injured when a bomb rips out the famous German bakery in the city.
Mumbai, Nov 26, 2008: 166 people killed in coordinated serial explosions and indiscriminate firing across Mumbai including the crowded CST railway station and two five-star hotels -- Oberoi and Taj.
Assam, Oct 30, 2008: At least 77 killed and over 100 injured in 18 bombings across Assam.
Imphal, Oct 21, 2008: 17 killed in a powerful blast near Manipur Police Commando complex.
Malegaon, Maharashtra, Sep 29, 2008: Five people killed after a bomb kept in a motorbike goes off in a crowded market.
Modasa, Gujarat, Sep 29, 2008: One killed and several injured after a low-intensity bomb kept on a motorcycle goes off near a mosque.
New Delhi, Sep 27, 2008: Three people killed after a crude bomb is thrown in a busy market in Mehrauli.
New Delhi, Sep 13, 2008: 26 people killed in six blasts across the city.
Ahmedabad, July 26, 2008: 57 people killed after 20 synchronised blasts in less than two hours.
Bangalore, July 25, 2008: One person killed in a low-intensity bomb explosion.
Jaipur, May 13, 2008: 68 people killed in serial bombings.
January 2008: Terrorist attack on CRPF camp in Rampur kills eight.
October 2007: Two killed in blast inside Ajmer Sharif shrine in Rajasthan during Ramzan.
August 2007: 30 dead, 60 hurt in Hyderabad terror strike.
May 2007: A blast at Mecca mosque in Hyderabad kills 11 people.
February 19, 2007: Two bombs explode on board a train bound from India to Pakistan, burning to death at least 66 passengers, most of them Pakistanis.
September 2006: 30 dead and 100 hurt in twin blasts at a mosque in Malegaon.
July 2006: Seven bombs on Mumbai¿s trains kill over 200 and injured 700 others.
March 2006: Twin bombings at a train station and a temple in Varanasi kill 20 people.
October 2005: Three bombs placed in busy New Delhi markets a day before Diwali kill 62 people and injured hundreds.