Updated April 22nd, 2019 at 11:47 IST
Six Indian nationals among 290 killed in Sri Lanka serial blasts
At least six Indians have been killed in a string of eight powerful blasts, including suicide attacks, which struck three churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, officials said on Monday.
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At least six Indians have been killed in a string of eight powerful blasts, including suicide attacks, which struck three churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, officials said on Monday.
The blasts targeted St Anthony's Church in Colombo, St Sebastian's Church in the western coastal town of Negombo and another church in the eastern town of Batticaloa around 8.45 a.m. (local time) as the Easter Sunday mass were in progress.
Three explosions were reported from the five-star hotels - the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon Grand and the Kingsbury. Foreigners and locals who were injured in hotel blasts were admitted to the Colombo General Hospital.
The police said on Monday that at least six Indian nationals have been reported among the foreigners who died in the blasts.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Monday identified two more individuals killed in the blasts on Sunday.
"We sadly confirm the deaths of the following two individuals in the blasts yesterday, K G Hanumantharayappa and M Rangappa," Swaraj retweetd Indian High Commission in Colombo's tweet.
On Sunday, Swaraj, in a series of tweets, identified the three Indians as Lakshmi, Narayan Chandrashekhar and Ramesh.
"Indian High Commission in Colombo has conveyed that National Hospital has informed them about the death of three Indian nationals," she said in a tweet.
On Sunday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan identified a Keralite, P S Rasina (58), among those killed in the deadly bomb blasts.
Around 500 people, including Indians, were injured in the blasts - one of the deadliest attacks in the country's history. No group has claimed responsibility for Sunday's attacks.
Sri Lankan Police have arrested 24 suspects till now in connection with the multiple attacks on churches and hotels.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to condemn the horrific blasts, extending India's solidarity with the people of Sri Lanka. He also shared his thoughts and prayers with the victims' families and the injured.
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Published April 22nd, 2019 at 09:04 IST