Hyderabad twin blasts: Christian Aid workers help victims

Christian aid workers, doctors and medical staffs rushed to Hyderabad where more than 40 people were killed and several injured when two simultaneous blasts took place at a crowded park in the city on Saturday, August 25th.

The blasts suspected to be the hands of Islamic militants contained bombs packed with metal pellets which exploded within minutes of each other, one at a food centre and another at an amusement park. The blasts apart from killing also injured more than 120 people.

Catholic Archbishop of Hyderabad, Mgr Marampudi Joji condemning the blasts called on all Christian doctors and nurses to work all throughout the night.

"The Church of Hyderabad condemns this terrorist attack in the strongest possible terms. It is horrendous that elements can unleash such a horrific wave of terror on innocent citizens. These bomb blasts are an act of cowardice," said Mgr Joji to a Christian News agency.

Churches in the city were asked to be on high alert and continuously pray for the blast victims and for the people in the city.

Hyderabad has a large number of Muslim population and has a history of communal clashes between Hindus and Muslims; hence the attacks were also believed to be religiously motivated.

Andhra Pradesh is the third most populous state in India with 76.2 million people, 80 per cent Hindu, 9 per cent Muslim and 4 per cent Christian.

And Muslim makes up 40 percent of the city population with a substantial number of Christians and the rest are Hindus.

None has owned up yet the responsibility of the twin attacks in the city. However, Central security agencies have alleged the banned Harkat–ul–Jehadi Islami militant outfit of Bangladesh was behind the twin blasts.