Series of blasts rock capital city; two killed, over 25 injured 
Simultaneous blasts occurred at three busy areas in the capital city Sunday afternoon, killing at least two persons and injuring over two dozen others.
The blasts occurred in Tripureshwor, Sundhara and Balaju areas around 4:15 pm. The blasts in Tripureshwor and Sundhara took place at bus stands. Seven students of Bishwo Niketan Higher Secondary School, who were waiting for their bus, were among those injured in the blast in Tripureswhor.
Anisha KC, a student of Bishwo Niketan, was killed in the blast at the bus stand in Tripureshwor while the identity of the second victim, a woman, is yet to be verified. The Home Ministry has confirmed the two deaths.
Passengers inside a Kritipur Yatayat bus were also injured by splinters from the blast in Tripureshwor. Television footages showed some injured persons lying on the ground as police personnel hurried for rescue.
Another bomb went off inside a microbus near Balaju Industrial estate, Balaju, injuring over a dozen passengers. The microbus operating on the Ratnapark-New Bus Park route was completely ripped apart by the powerful blast.
Terrified people were seen rushing around for safety soon the after the bomb went off inside the microbus. Eyewitnesses described similar scenes around Tripureshwor and Sundhara.
Most of the injured persons have been admitted at the Bir Hospital . Those undergoing treatment there and Siddhartha Hospital in Balaju include Rajib KC, Bal Krishna Thapa, Sandhya Khadka, Prakash Gurung, Sita Acharya, Gyanendra Waiba, Sarup Thapa, Jagat Mani Bajracharya, Chandra Gurung, Satish Shahi, Rudra Dhungel, Basanta Choudhary, Mithu B.K and two unidentified women. An injured Nepal Army soldier who was also admitted at Bir Hospital was transferred to Birendra Army Hospital at Chhauni.
"Suddenly there was a huge bang inside the microbus. Most of those inside were badly injured," Ramji Panta, who was injured in the blast Balaju blast, said from his hospital bed.
Condition of three persons undergoing treatment at the Bir Hospital is said to be critical.
Security personnel have cordoned off the incident sites and security has been beefed up in the capital city.
Meanwhile, two little known Terai-based outfits have claimed responsibility for the bomb blasts. According to report by BBC Nepali Service, Terai Army and Terai Utthan Sangat, separately, claimed the responsibility for the explosions in Kathmandu . Both their claims are yet to be independently verified.
A leader of Terai Army calling himself Mr. John telephoned to claim the responsibility. Another person claiming himself as Mr. Deva, a leader of Terai Army, told BBC Nepali Service that they were working in the interest of Terai region. He said his organisation is ready to talk if the government calls them for dialogue. Another hitherto unknown organisation calling itself Terai Utthan Sangat has also claimed responsibility for the same.
Meanwhile, Minister for Peace and Reconstruction Ram Chandra Poudel has expressed condolences to the families of those killed in the bomb blasts. "We will provide relief and ensure treatment of injured ones," he said, adding that the government will strengthen security situation.
Furthermore, the Special Representative of UN Secretary General Ian Martin has also issued a statement condemning the bomb blasts. "The United Nations expresses its condemnation of the bomb attacks which have killed and injured Kathmandu citizens, and its condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families. The Nepalese have shown a great capacity to resolve difficult issues through peaceful dialogue, and I have no doubt that acts of terror will discredit whatever cause they are claimed to promote with the Nepalese people as well as the international community," the statement says. nepalnews.com Sep 02 07
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