Security alert after 45 killed in series of Indian blasts
The bombings in the western city of Ahmedabad come a day after explosions in the southern city of Bangalore
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Sunday, 27, Jul 2008 04:29
Security has been stepped up after at least 45 people were killed and over a hundred injured by explosions in the Indian city of Ahmedabad.
Two waves of explosions with at least 16 detonations struck the city, with the first series of bombs going off in the city's residential areas and markets while the next wave struck Ahmedabad's hospitals some 20 minutes later.
A spokesman for the country's home ministry told the Reuters news agency that security had been stepped at major transport networks.
"The entire nation, including major metro cities in India, have been put on high alert and they have been asked to step up security in vital installations," he explained.
Today's bombings come a day after a series of low intensity blasts hit the southern city of Bangalore. At least one person has been confirmed dead in the attack on one of the country's information technology hubs.
Indian media have said a previously unknown group called the "Indian Mujahideen" had accepted responsibility for the blasts.
Ahmedabad is a city with large Hindu and Muslim populations and has seen communal riots flare up in the past. There is no evidence about whether the bombings in Ahmedabad targeted religious groups.
President Pratibha Patil has urged people to remain "steadfast in this testing time and maintain peace and harmony" while home secretary Shivraj Patil said enabling people to continue their lives as normal was the top priority.
"The most important thing today... is to see that the peace and tranquillity in Gujarat is not disturbed, or peace and tranquillity in any part of the country is not disturbed," he said.
"The state governments have been taking steps to see that there are no mischiefs perpetrated by the people and nothing is done to disturb the peace and tranquillity."