(VIDEO) At least 15 people died and around 60 were injured in three separate bomb attacks in the holiest Hindu city of Varanasi in northern India.
Video: Reuters
One bomb targeted the city's Hanuman Temple, which was teeming with devotees who visit the complex every Tuesday to worship the god of strength for which the shrine is named.
The other two exploded at the main railway station.
"The toll is now 15 killed with five fatalities in the rail station and 10 in the Hanuman Temple," said Suren Srivastav, police spokesman of Uttar Pradesh state where the riverside city is situated.
Srivastav said 22 people were injured at the shrine while 38 were wounded when another two bombs went off almost simultaneoulsy on a crowded train and in the station master's office in the city's main railway station.
Israeli Foreign Ministry officials in New Delhi said that no Israelis seem to have been wounded in the bombings in Varanasi, which is known to be a popular destination for Israeli tourists
So far none of the various Maoist outfits, Islamist separatist groups, or tribal guerrilla forums opertaing in India have claimed responsibility for the blasts.
The last serial bombings in India occurred on October 29, when 66 shoppers were killed in three bombings in New Delhi.
One of India's holiest cities
Temple-studded Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges river in Uttar Pradesh state, is one of the holiest cities for India's majority Hindu population.
The blast at the Sankat Mochan temple could have "Several casualties as it is usually packed with thousands of devotees" on Tuesday, a holy day for most Hindus, said the official, who is from Varanasi.
"There are some casualties," Yashpal Singh, the state's police chief, told the Star News TV channel. "The position is not clear because there is a lot of crowd there. Security has been increased in the city."
Roee Nahmias contributed to the report
First published: 17:16, 03.07.6