So, it seems things are heating up for the elections in November... the bombs only happened this afternoon, so it will be interesting to see how things pan out over the next few days and weeks...
This website: www.nepalbandh.com is interesting, and shows all the planned strikes coming up... petrol queues are again ridiculously long, and rumours are that power shortages will be 11 hours per day from Feb onwards... so its a good time to be leaving perhaps... I mustn't forget that I am lucky to have the choice to leave...
I am pasting an article from Kantipur - a local newspaper - below
Two dead, over 2 dozen hurt in Kathmandu serial blasts; Terai Army claims responsibility
Kantipur Report
The bombs went off almost simultaneously at Tripureshwor, Sundhara and Balaju.
An unidentified group detonated “time bombs” concealed in bags, the police said. However, nobody has been arrested so far.
Home Ministry spokesman, Baman Prasad Neupane confirmed that two people have died and five others are critically injured.
Two people died when a bomb went off at a bus stop in front of the United World Trade Center in Tripureshwor. The bomb was planted below the bench at the bus stop.
One of the dead has been identified as Anita KC, a class 12 student at Vishwaniketan Higher Secondary School. Another dead woman, aged 40, is yet to be identified, the Bir Hospital authorities informed. They succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment at the Bir Hospital. Their bodies were taken to the TU Teaching Hospital for the post mortem later in the evening.
“The explosion ripped apart one person while around 7 to 8 persons were injured,” said Ram Prasad Pariyar, a bus driver who was an eyewitness to Tripureshwor explosion. Altogether 14 people, including seven students of the Vishwaniketan Higher Secondary School, were injured in the Tripureshwor blast.
Two passenger buses heading from Ratnapark to Kirtipur and Daikchhinkali were also partially damaged in the explosion.
Another bomb was hurled at a microbus in front of the Balaju industrial estate. Altogether 14 people were injured there. Five of them are reportedly in a critical condition. The microbus was heading from Ratnapark to Balaju.
A Nepali Army soldier was injured when a bomb went off at a bus stop opposite the Bagdubar and just outside the Army Headquarters at Sundhara.
Of the injured 15 are admitted to the emergency ward and trauma center at the Bir Hospital and nine have been undergoing treatment at the Siddhartha Hospital in Balaju.
Those rushed to the Bir Hospital included Vishwaniketan students Sabi Shah, Rakshya Khadka (class 12), Shanik Shah and Prakash Gurung (class six), Sandhya Khadka, Sita Acharya, Gyanendra Waiba, Sukapaa Thapa, Jatan Mani, Chandra Prakash Gurung, Bhagwati Bhandari, Rudra Dhungel, Surendra Shahi, Basanta Chaudhary and Mitthu BK. Ten of them are still admitted while rest have been discharged.
Condition of four of the injured is critical and they have undergone operations late in the evening. Two of them have lost their legs, the Bir Hospital authorities added.
Scores of worried people have thronged outside the Bir Hospital to enquire if their near and dear ones were admitted there.
Those who were rushed to the Sidhartha Hospital are Pradip KC, Bal Krishna Thapa, Laxman Thakuri, Ram Krishna Sunuwar, Bhagawati Bhandari, Ramjee Karki, Sushila Karki and two years old girl.
Three of the critically injured were later referred to the Bir Hospital.
Kathmandu Valley Police Chief SP Sarvendra Khanal said that they were still investigating the case.
Meanwhile, a little known group called the Terai Army has claimed responsibility for the Kathmandu blasts.
One Mr Smith, who identified himself as the leader of the group based in Rautahat district, called a television channel in Kathmandu and claimed the responsibility over the phone.
The claim is yet to be verified independently.
The group was behind a few bomb blasts in Rautahat a few months back.
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