PM Modi condemns Lahore blast

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned the Lahore blasts and offered his condolences to the families of the deceased.

"Heard about the blast in Lahore. I strongly condemn it. My condolences to families of the deceased & prayers with the injured," Modi tweeted.

Over 53 people including women and children, enjoying Easter holiday at a popular public park, were today killed and nearly 200 others injured in a powerful suicide blast in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, capital of Punjab province.

 At least 53 people, including women and children, enjoying Easter holiday at a popular park, were today killed and nearly 200 others injured when a powerful suicide bomber blew himself up in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, the capital of Punjab province.

A large number of people including Christians were present in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Iqbal Town area of the city when the blast occurred, leaving many in a pool of blood.

"It was a powerful blast. It is suspected that a suicide bomber blew himself up at the gate of the main gate of the park," Deputy Inspector General Lahore Police Haider Asharaf said. The park is located in a posh-locality in Lahore, the hometown of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The city is comparatively peaceful in an otherwise violence-wracked Pakistan.

Eyewitnesses said there were scattered body parts in the park, where a large number of families, especially women and children, were present on a Sunday evening. The crowd was "unusually large" because of Easter.

"Still a good number of people are in critical condition," Punjab Emergency Services Rescue 1122 spokesperson Deeba Shahnaz said.