NEW DELHI, (Reuters) – Explosions at an Indian election rally killed five people and wounded 83 in the eastern city of Patna yesterday, the chief minister of Bihar state said.
At least six crude bombs exploded in quick succession near a crowd of tens of thousands of people waiting to hear a speech by opposition candidate Narendra Modi for the election due by May.
Earlier, a small device detonated at Patna’s train station.
“There was a blast right behind me. I heard people saying that one of the tyres of a vehicle has burst,” one witness told a TV network. “When I went to the spot, I saw many people lying injured on the ground.”
Television channels showed pictures of shattered windows of buses, white smoke billowing and people running in panic.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said five people were killed and 83 were wounded in the bombings.
