The Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde made the following statement in Parliament on Hyderabad blasts:

On February 21, twin blasts took place in a busy locality of Dilsukhnagar area of Hyderabad city at a local bus stop and a canteen, which were about 150 metres from each other at 6.58 p.m. and 7.01 p.m. respectively.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were placed on bicycles causing explosions at both the places. A total of 16 persons died and 117 were injured out of which four are critically injured. The state government immediately deployed emergency medical response team along with 25 ambulances to take the injured to the hospital.

The state police and a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) Branch office at Hyderabad immediately reached the place of occurrence and cordoned off the area and collected the evidence. State forensic teams were also pressed into service to collect the evidence from the crime scene. A team of NIA lead by IG and Post Blast Investigative Team (PBIT) of the National Security Guard (NSG) were sent to Hyderabad from Delhi at 9.30 p.m. yesterday by a special plane and reached Hyderabad by 11.30. Two cases have been registered vide CR No. 14/2013 of Saroor Nagar Police Station, Cyberabad and CR No. 56/2013 of Malakpet Police Station, Hyderabad city. The NIA will investigate the case in conjunction with Andhra Pradesh Police.

I along with Home Secretary and DG, NIA went to Hyderabad and reviewed the situation with the Andhra Pradesh Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, DGP, Commissioner of Police and other senior officers. I visited the scene of occurrence and thereafter I visited injured in hospital.

The Prime Minister of India has announced ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh for the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to injured persons. State government has also announced ex-gratia of Rs. 6 lakh to deceased and Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh for injured besides bearing all the expenses for the treatment of the injured. The situation is under control.

I extend my heartfelt condolences for the bereaved families who lost their near and dear ones in the blasts. The Government is committed to combat such cowardly terror attack and it shall make all possible efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and masterminds behind the blasts and ensure that they are punished as per the law.