Indian PM Narendra Modi condemns Lahore blast

0
324

March 27, 2016

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the Lahore blasts and offered his condolences to the families of the deceased.

"Heard about the blast in Lahore. I strongly condemn it. My condolences to families of the deceased & prayers with the injured," Modi tweeted.

March 27, 2016

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the Lahore blasts and offered his condolences to the families of the deceased.

"Heard about the blast in Lahore. I strongly condemn it. My condolences to families of the deceased & prayers with the injured," Modi tweeted.

Over 50 people including women and children, enjoying Easter holiday at a popular public park, were killed and nearly 200 others injured in a powerful suicide blast in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, capital of Punjab province.

Dozens of ambulances raced to Gulshan-e-Ishaq park but for many it was too late

At least 50 people have been killed and many others injured in an explosion at a park in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, officials say.

It happened in the early evening when the park was crowded with families.

Police told the BBC it appeared to be a suicide bomb. No group has said it was behind the blast.

There is speculation that Christian families out for the Easter weekend may have been the target, says the BBC's Shaimaa Khalil, in Lahore.

All the major hospitals in the area have been put on an emergency footing, local media report.

The explosion appears to have been at the main gate to the Gulshan-e-Iqbal park in an area where cars are usually left – and a short distance from the children's swings.

Most of the dead and injured are women and children, a senior local police officer told Reuters news agency.

One eyewitness said there was chaos, with a stampede breaking out and children separated from their parents in the rush to escape.

Men mourn the death of their relatives after a blast outside a public park in Lahore 27/03/2016: Dozens of ambulances raced to Gulshan-e-Ishaq park but for many it was too late

Relatives move an injured bomb blast victim to a hospital after a bomb blast in Lahore 27/03/2016: Large numbers of people have been injured, and many are said to be in a serious condition

Pakistani women mourn the death of relatives after the Lahore blast 27/03/2016: Many families had gone to the park

Another told Pakistan's Geo TV station he was heading towards a ride with his wife and two children when he heard a huge bang and all four of them were thrown to the floor.

Facebook has activated its feature for people in Lahore to mark themselves as safe.

Lahore is the capital of Punjab, Pakistan's largest and wealthiest province and the political powerbase of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Pakistan's President Mamnoon Hussain has strongly condemned the explosion and the Punjab government has announced three days of mourning.

Pakistan has suffered regular incidents of Taliban-related violence, sectarian strife and criminal gang activity.


Courtesy: BBC / PTI