BREAKING NEWS: Serial bomb blasts in Jaipur, India

A series of bomb blasts Tuesday night in the northern Indian city of Jaipur in Rajasthan state have left at least 50 dead. From CNN-IBN:

Seven serial blasts have rocked the city of Jaipur at 7:35 PM on Tuesday evening. The blasts took place in the walled city area, in the Manas Chowk Police Station area, Johari Bazaar and the other in the Hanuman Mandir area. The walled city area is full of bylanes and is a very congested area.

First video report:

The report above says all the places bombed were tourist spots.

From: Aaman Lamba <aamanlamba[at]gmail.com>

Updates - police and hospital numbers here:
http://desicritics.org/2008/05/13/121202.php [desicritics.org]

Please note: 2s was at the blast site, and is live twittering updates:
http://twitter.com/2s [twitter.com] - best example of citizen media in the
Indian context yet

Watch live streaming video from CNN-IBN here.

Updates from:
Rediff.com
Samachar.com
Google News

Freelancers in/near Jaipur: please contact SAJA at saja[at]columbia.edu with your cellphone numbers and a couple of bio lines - and list yourself at http://www.saja.org/freelance.html

Editors: Find Jaipur freelancers at http://www.saja.org/freelance.html

Post news updates, comments below.

A message that went out to American citizens registered with the US Embassy in New Delhi:

From: "CitizenServices, American" <ACSEMBND@state.gov>
Date: Wed, 14 May 2008 00:24:32
Subject: Warden Message - Jaipur Bomb Blasts - 13 May 2008

A series of powerful explosions occurred in Jaipur, Rajasthan including Sangener Gate, Subhash Chowk, Hanuman Temple in Tripolia Bazaar, Chandpol, Bari Choupad, Manak Chowk, Johri Bazaar, and Hawa Mahal at 7:30 p.m. local time, May 13th.
Visitors and residents of Jaipur should avoid the areas affected by the blasts. Americans traveling in India should maintain a low profile, and avoid crowded areas and other public places.   

For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Internet web site at  <http://travel.state.gov> http://travel.state.gov where the current Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts can be found.  Up to date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-317-472-2328.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
U.S. citizens may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for further information:

--  The  <http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov> U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8407. The Embassy's Internet home page address is  <http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov> http://newdelhi.usembassy.gov.

-- The  <http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov> U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at Lincoln House, 78 Bhulabhai Desai Road, 400026, telephone +91-22-2363-3611; fax +91-22-2363-0350. Internet home page address is  <http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov> http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov.

From USINPAC...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
5/13/2008
Contact: Michael Taylor
Telephone: (202) 628-3451
Email: mtaylor@usinpac.com

INDIAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY CONDEMNS BOMBINGS IN JAIPUR
USINPAC saddened by the Loss of Life

Jaipur, India--The Indian-American community and the U.S. India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) condemn the recent bomb attacks in India's western city of Jaipur and are deeply saddened by the loss of life.

At least six bombs exploded in Jaipur, leaving up to 150 people wounded.  Rajasthan state government officials said between 50 and 60 people were killed in the explosions.  This makes these the deadliest bomb attacks in India in nearly two years.

"Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the victims and we hope that the authorities are able to bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice as soon as possible," says Sanjay Puri, Chairman of USINPAC.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but India has previously blamed Pakistan-based Islamist militants fighting to end New Delhi's rule of Kashmir for such bombings.  In July 2006, seven explosions ripped through Mumbai's railway system, killing more than 180 people.  That attack, like many others, was blamed on Islamic militants based in neighboring Pakistan and aided by local Muslims.

Over the past few years, a series of bomb blasts in Indian cities have killed hundreds of people.  Last August, three bombs killed 38 people in Hyderabad, in southern India.  In October of last year, a bomb exploded at a Muslim shrine in Ajmer, Rajasthan, killing at least two people.  In November, explosions in three northern cities - Varanasi, Lucknow and Faizabad - killed at least 13 people.

About USINPAC
The U.S. India Political Action Committee (USINPAC) is the political voice of 2.5 million Indian-Americans.  USINPAC provides bipartisan support to candidates for federal, state and local office who support the issues that are important to the Indian-American community.  For more information, go to www.usinpac.com.