Colombo, Sri Lanka: The death toll in the multiple explosions here and in other parts of the Island nation on Sunday morning has crossed 200, Sri Lankan police has said.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj informed through her Twitter handle that the dead include 3 from India.
Indian High Commission in Colombo has conveyed that National Hospital has informed them about the death of three Indian nationals. Their names are Lokashini, Narayan Chandrashekhar and Ramesh. We are ascertaining further details. /3
— Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 21, 2019
The horror is being described as one of the worst terror attacks in recent times to have hit India’s neighbour. Seven suspects have been arrested.
About 35 foreigners are reported to have died in the attacks.
Eight explosions ripped through the Sri Lankan capital, targetted at high-end hotels and churches. Three churches in Kochchikade, Negombo and Batticaloa were targeted during Easter services. The Shangri La, Cinnamon Grand and Kingsbury hotels, all in Colombo, were also hit.
Easter Sunday is one of the major feasts in the Christian calendar.
Reuters quoted a police source as saying more than 50 died in Negombo alone. Hospital sources in Batticaloa said at least 27 people had died there.
A hotel official at the Cinnamon Grand, near the prime minister’s official residence, told AFP the explosion there had ripped through a restaurant, killing at least one person.
While no one has claimed responsibility for the blasts, some media outlets said Islamic Group may be behind the wanton act.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi telephoned Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and offered all possible assistance from the Indian side as he condemned the attack.
