Over 50 bus passengers killed in mine blast

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Colombo, June 15 (UNI) At least 58 civilians were killed while more than 40 were seriously injured when a fully-loaded passenger bus plying between Anuradhapura and Kebithikkollawa blew up in a powerful mine blast by suspected LTTE cadres this morning.

''The passenger bus was travelling with over 100 civilians passengers when the LTTE cadres exploded the powerful claymore mine around 0750 hours this morning. As of now, more than 35 dead bodies and nearly 40 wounded civilians have been brought to the Kebithikkollawa base hospital in the Anuradhapura district,'' a top military official said here.

According to him, most of the casualties were believed to be office-goers, teachers, and students.

''There are reports of that the casualties also include clergymen, but we are unable to confirm it immediately,'' the official said.

The blast has taken place exactly a day after a five-member LTTE delegation led by its political wing head, S P Thamilselvan, returned to Wanni after refusing to hold direct talks with the Lankan government delegation in Oslo in the presence of the Norwegian facilitators, on matters pertaining to the safety and operational modalities of the Nordic truce monitors.

There is no immediate reaction from the LTTE regarding the blast.

UNI XC VD DB1046

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