Blasts toll rises to 49, injures 180 in Pakistan's Lahore

ISLAMABAD, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- The death tally of the twin blasts in eastern Pakistan's Lahore on Monday evening has mounted to 49 while another 180 persons were injured including some in the worst critical condition, city official said Tuesday.

People rush an injured person to a local hospital in Lahore, Pakistan on Monday, Dec. 7, 2009.(Xinhua/AP Photo)

According to sources, the two consecutive blasts ripped through Lahore's commercial center late on Monday night. The first blast was a suicide attack while the second was detonated through remote control device.

However, the district administration said that both the blasts were result of suicide bombing and that the heads of both the bombers have been recovered from the site of the incident.

The Edhi Welfare Trust sources have put the death toll at 49. On the other hand, Lahore police officer Pervez Rathor has confirmed deaths of 37 people in both the attacks. The number of injured is over 180, he added.

Initially, Director General Rescue Operation said that 38 people died in the incident while 90 others were injured. Those hurt also included women and children.

The two blasts occurred within seconds of each other at Lahore's busy Moon Market in Allama Iqbal Town locality. The first blast took place in the middle of the market while the second one near a private bank.

Fire erupted in the market immediately after the blasts, engulfing a number of shops and motorcycles parked in the nearby parking space.

The powerful blasts also shattered the windowpanes of the surrounding buildings.