Blast in Guwahati

Eleven serial blasts rocked several districts of Assam on Thursday, including three in Guwahati, killing at least 30 persons and injuring over 150 others. The powerful bombs went off simultaneously at around 1130 IST, one of them exploding in front of the Kamrup district deputy commissioner’s office in Guwahati, official sources said. Thick smoke billowed after the high intensity blasts which turned a number of cars, cycles and two wheelers into mangled heaps of metal.

Two other bombs exploded at Ganeshguri, near the capital complex where five persons were killed, and Fancy Bazar area, they said. There were three blasts also in Barpeta district, while two explosions occurred in Bongaigaon. Two persons were killed in twin blasts in Kokrajhar districts, the sources added.

Casualty figures are likely to rise as many of the injured are reported to be critical. The wounded included many women and children. The first blast in Guwahati occurred at a vegetable and fruit market at Ganeshguri, near the flyover adjacent to the high security secretariat and Assembly. The blast caused a major fire in the area, the smoke engulfing the entire market and nearby places. The next blast occurred in front of the DC’s office, injuring many and destroying several cars parked there.

The third explosion rocked areas near the police station of the busy Fancy Bazar, triggering panic among shoppers, many of whom were injured, the sources said. Guwahati Superintendent of Police G P Singh said the police and fire brigade are engaged in controlling the fire. In Kokrajhar, the explosives were suspected to have been planted on a two-wheelers.