sri lanka
Image Source: Indiatimes.com

It was Easter Sunday and Christians across the world were involved in holy services when eight blasts hit locations including churches and hotels across Sri Lanka, leaving at least 290 people dead and 450 injured

The dead include five Indians identified as Lakshmi, Narayan Chandrashekhar, Ramesh, K G Hanumantharayappa, and M Rangappa, confirmed Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj on Twitter.

Congregations were taking part in Easter Sunday services at the churches when the blasts hit.

The five-star Shangri-La, Kingsbury, Taprobane, and Cinnamon Grand hotels in the heart of Colombo were targeted.

At least 290 people died in the blasts and around 450 people were injured, foreign minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday after a conversation with her Lankan counterpart Tilak Marapana.

In a series of tweets, Swaraj said, “Indian High Commission in Colombo has conveyed that National Hospital has informed them about the death of three Indian nationals. Their names are Lakshmi, Narayan Chandrashekhar and Ramesh. We are ascertaining further details.”

Another woman from Kerala, PS Razeena, 58, who had settled in Dubai, also died in the blasts, reported news agency IANS.

“I conveyed to the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka that India is ready to provide all humanitarian assistance. In case required, we are ready to despatch our medical teams as well,” read another tweet from Swaraj.

The death toll could rise significantly as hospitals report casualty figures. At least 27 foreigners are known to have died.

When a police team entered a house in the Colombo north suburb of Orugodawatta to conduct a search, a suicide bomber blew himself up.

On Sunday, in consequence to serial blasts, the Lankan government announced a curfew and lifted on Monday morning. In addition, social media was also shut down by Lankan government.

Though no group has accepted responsibility for the blasts, the police have arrested 13 people.