A string of 16 low-intensity blasts shook Ahmedabad on Saturday.

The explosions rocked 14 crowded areas, including market places and two hospitals, in the Gujarat capital in a space of 60 to 70 minutes after the first blast at 6.45 pm.

Some of the blasts were in communally sensitive areas like Mani Nagar (Narendra Modi's constituency), Isanpur, Narol circle, Bapunagar, Hatkeshwar, Sarnagpurbridge and Sarkhej (Gujarat Home Minister's constituency).

Although casualty figures are likely to rise, according to initial assessments, at least 29 people are dead while over 100 others have been injured.

According to reports, a group that calls itself the Indian Mujahideen has claimed responsibility, terming it as a "revenge of Gujarat in the land of Hind."

Responding to the situation, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who campaigned in December 2007 on the back of his strong record against terrorism, was quick to condemn the blasts.

Thereafter, he held a high level meeting with officers at the Ahmedabad police headquarters.

Post the meeting, Modi promised that Gujarat would continue on the path of development and growth, while urging that the public should not succumb to the evil designs of the terrorists and must remain calm.

"The enemies of the nation have today stained with blood the soil of Mahatma Gandhi's Gujarat. Terrorists have continued their war against India. Killing innocent people is not only a crime but is a form of enmity with the humanity," said Modi.

All those who believe in humanity should prepare themselves for a long war - while maintaining peace. I have spoken to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. There is a similar pattern in all recent terrorist attacks (in the country). There must be a mastermind operating behind them all," he added.

The CM also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh to the victims' kin.

BJP seeks terror law

Leader of Opposition and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani has also condemned the blasts, saying that “The incident must be taken seriously by the state and the centre" and added that he had already spoken to Modi.

Speaking about the situation, Advani also stressed on the need for need for a strong law to deal with terrorism, which he said the centre must look at now.

In addition, the BJP leader also pointed out that intelligence agencies, like the IB, should probe the fact that the recent blasts have targeted BJP ruled states.

Similarly, BJP President Rajnath Singh also condemned the situation saying that there was an "environment of terror in the country" and all parties should come together to fight against terrorism."

PM announces compensation

Immediately after the reports of the attacks came in, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pratibha Patil condemned the attacks in strong terms, while requesting the people to maintain calm.

The prime minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Sri Prakash Jaiswal has termed the attack as aimed at disrupting communal harmony and hurt India's economic growth

Hinting at a foreign hand in the blasts, Jaiswal also pointed out that such attacks were being carried out by groups that are being aided by other countries.

No blame game?

Speaking to the reporters in New Delhi Home Minister Shivraj Patil condemned the blasts and extended his sympathies to the families of the victims.

“This is a time when we should not allow anybody to make use of these blasts to create more terror and to create more difficulties for the people,” Patil said.

The minister said that he had just returned from Pune and was in the process of collecting information on the blasts and was in touch with the government and promised the centre's support to the state government.

“This was not the time to indulge in a blame game and shift responsibility,” Patil added. However, Home Ministry sources have said that the Gujarat government was warned three days ago.

For now, all metros have been put on high alert along with states like West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.

Also, the Home Minister will be convening a high-level meeting on Sunday at 11 am and the Centre has dispatched an NSG and bomb experts team to Ahmedabad.

"One team of bomb experts has already left and another will leave tomorrow so that we can analyse what kind of explosion these were and who could be behind it," Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta said.