Manmohan Singh condemns Bangalore blasts

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday condemned the Bangalore serial bomb blasts and urged people to remain calm and maintain communal harmony.

Prime Minister Singh expressed grief over the loss to life and sent his condolences to the bereaved family.

He has sanctioned an ex-gratia payment of Rs. 100,000 to the next of kin of the dead and Rs.50,000 to those injured in the blasts.

One woman was killed and six people were injured when a series of bombs fitted with timer devices went off in the space of 45 minutes in the country's IT capital.

After the blasts, the union government sought a report from the Karnataka government while Home Minister Shivraj Patil  promised all help to the state government in tracking down the perpetrators.