At least 11 people were killed and nearly 50 were injured when two blasts rocked Dilsukhnagar, a busy commercial hub in Hyderabad, on Thursday evening. The unofficial death toll, though was past 15 by 9 pm.

The first blast occurred at 7.01 pm and the second within minutes, PTI reports. There were also reports of a third explosion after a gap of 15 minutes, though it could not be confirmed.

Addressing the media around 8.30 pm, union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde confirmed 11 deaths — eight in one explosion and three in the other — and said the casualty figure could go up. He also said the home ministry had information for the last 48 hours about likelihood of blasts, though there was no specific information.

Shinde refused to comment when asked whether there were lapses despite the government having information about possible blasts. “I cannot say anything immediately... preliminary inquiry is on,” he said.

Shinde said the blasts took place within 100 to 120 metres of each other. He also said he had spoken with Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who was at the blast site and that preliminary reports indicate the bombs kept on cycles, Reddy told Shinde.

The blasts took place during the peak hour outside a roadside eatery near Konark cinema theatre in the locality, resulting in a stampede-like situation with people trying to run for safety.

NSG team rushed to Hyderabad

A team of forensic experts of the National Security Guards (NSG), the country's premier counter-terror force, was flown to Hyderabad in the aftermath of the serial blasts.

Quoting sources, PTI reported that experts from the Chennai hub of the 'black cat' commando force have also been rushed to Hyderabad.

The NSG, which is also the key force for counter-hijack operations, operates the National Bomb Data Centre, which has detailed information about such acts in the country. The team will collect samples from the spot and analyse the 'trigger mechanism' used in the blasts, sources told PTI.

Who said what
Prime minister’s office: "This is a dastardly attack; the guilty will not go unpunished.... I appeal to the public to remain calm and maintain peace."

RPN Singh, union minister of state for home: "We had input that there will blasts be somewhere in the country. Our teams are already there. Once we gather all information we can have a detailed report."

Manish Tewari, information and broadcasting minister: "The blasts are highly condemnable. The home ministry is in touch with the state government. Our condolences are with people who have been affected. It would be better to react after we have the details."