Jaipur blasts

13 May 2008

Terrorists struck for the first time in Jaipur triggering seven blasts in a span of 12 minutes on Tuesday night in crowded market areas and near a Hanuman temple in the walled city leaving at least 60 killed and 200 injured. Severed limbs, mangled heaps of cycle rickshaws, bicycles and smashed windscreens of cars turned the crowded markets crammed with peak-time shoppers in the walled part of the Pink City into a virtual war zone minutes after serial bomb blasts were set off by terrorists.

Utter chaos and panic prevailed soon after the blasts took place in a span of 20 minutes. Scores of wounded people were ferried to three hospitals soon after blasts hit at Tripolia Bazar, where a large number of devotees turned up at a hanuman temple, Johari Bazar, Manank Chowk, Badi Choupad and Choti Choupad in the walled part of the city. 

It is for the first time that the tourist hotspot, Jaipur has figured on terror hit list. Within minutes of the blast, one could see siren blaring ambulances and vehicles zipping though the by lanes. The blasts triggered a near-stampede situation at the blast sites as panic-stricken people ran helter skelter in search of a safe place. People were also seen carrying the injured as the number of ambulances fell far short of the requirement.

The nearby hospitals were crowded as relatives thronged to look for their near and dear ones.

Bangladesh-based Harkut-ul-Jehadi Islami is suspected to be behind the blasts that has taken the state authorities by surprise, home ministry sources said. The sources ruled out the use of RDX in the carefully orchestrated low-intensity explosions which were suspected to have been set off from cycles in areas including near the famous Hawa Mahal which are frequented by domestic and foreign tourists. 

The blasts rocked Tripolia Bazar, where large number of devotees turned up at a Hanuman temple, Johari Bazar, Manas Chowk, Badi Choupal and Choti Choupal -- all located within a two-km radius in the old city.

At one of the blast sites, the body of a newly-wed woman, dressed in a bright red saree with traditional (chuda) "marriage bangles", lay on the road. Another young man was hung out of a rickshaw with his head turned back and his face smeared with blood. Johri Bazar, one of the biggest shopping markets, which was rocked by the blasts, lay strewn with bangles and mangled rickshaws. 

Also strewn around were shopping bags, bloodstained sandals and shoes of victims.

At Sawai Mansing Hospital, the emergency ward was splattered with blood as scores of dead and injured were taken there. Drenched in blood, people were seen running with their mobile phones glued to their ears informing their kins about their condition. 

A puddle of blood formed outside the Hanuman Temple at Tripolia Bazar where a ten-year-old boy perished in the blast. Within minutes, the whole temple complex and the market were cleared of the crowd as people ran for safety. Police were seen warning the people against touching any unidentified or unclaimed objects.

one explosive was defused by bomb disposal squad near the Hanuman temple. Rapid Action Force personnel were deployed in Jaipur to help deal with the situation as security was beefed up.