Life in Nepali capital was in panic after a serial bomb explosions killed at least two persons and injured more than two dozen on Sunday afternoon.
Talking to Xinhua on Sunday, the Operation Department of Nepal Police confirmed that two persons have died and several others seriously injured in at least three bomb explosions that occurred at three separate locations in Kathmandu. The police confirmed that the bombs exploded at a bus stand in Tripureshwor, near National Stadium, in Sundhara, near Army Headquarters and in a moving bus in Balaju area, southwestern part of Kathmandu valley.
"Both the bodies of the deceased have been brought to Bir Hospital where most of the injured are undergoing treatment," the duty officer at the Operation Department of Police told Xinhua.
The police added that timing devices were used in donating the bombs.
The explosion caused panic among general people in Nepali capital as the timing of the explosion was at the time when most of the school children and office goers return home in the evening.
One of the dead has been identified as Anita KC, a class 12 student at Vishwaniketan Higher Secondary School while identity of another is yet to be confirmed.
Parents of school children were further worried as unconfirmed reports saying most of the victims of blasts include school students hit the local media. Six students waiting for their buses were among those injured in the blast in Tripureswhor while the explosion in moving micro-bus in Balaju ripped apart the vehicle killing and injuring the passengers.
"I am really worried about my six-year-old son as reports of more explosions are heard from media," said Paras Shrestha, a father who was waiting for his son's school bus to arrive in a bus stand located near an explosion site.
At the time when most of the people were scurrying to safety, parents like Shrestha had to wait for their children as the school bus was delayed due to obstructed traffic movement in Nepali capital. The police personnel started security check in vehicle plying in streets to prevent further incidents.
"Suddenly there was a huge bang inside the microbus. Most of those inside were badly injured," Ramji Panta, who was injured in the blast Balaju blast, said from his hospital bed. Condition of three persons undergoing treatment at the Bir Hospital is said to be critical.
Meanwhile, Surendra Tuladhar, an eyewitness and a shopkeeper at the departmental store in front of the National Stadium, told Xinhua that he saw a number of persons seriously injured by the blast. "Most of the victims of the blasts were pedestrians and those waiting for bus in the bus stand," he said, adding that the death toll might go up.
Although police could not confirm who is responsible for the blast, a little known group called "Terai Army", which was relatively active in southern Nepal's Terai region, claimed to take the responsibility for the blast.
Mr. Khanna, who identified himself as the leader of the group based southern Terai of Nepal called a television channel in Kathmandu and claimed the responsibility over the phone.
Prior to this, the group also reportedly claimed responsibility in bomb blasts in Rautahat District, situated some 110 km south of Nepali capital Kathmandu.
In mid-May, at least 14 people were injured, one of them critically, when the group had detonated a bomb at a busy local market in Chandranigahapur in Rautahat district.
Armed groups such as Terai Army are actively involved in targeted killings and kidnapping in southern Nepal demanding separate state for Madhesi people in Terai region. Madhesi community living mostly in southern Terai of Nepal is considered to be the people with India origin.
The claim is yet to be verified independently.
Source: Xinhua
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