Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit claimed that 37 people had lost their lives in three serial bomb blasts that rocked Delhi on Saturday evening.
Speaking to reporters after visiting Ram Manohar Lohia and Safdarjang hospitals, Dikhshit said the first priority is to control the situation and she appealed to people not to panic. She also advised people not to go to the market unless absolutely necessary.
"I am not saying that things can happen, but that they could happen. So, I would request the people of Delhi to exercise restraint and go for shopping only if absolutely necessary," she said.
When asked why the vigilance guard was lowered when Delhi had witnessed two bomb blasts nearly six months ago, she said that it would be difficult to answer that question and only an inquiry could establish how the blasts happened and why.
"I will not say whether there was extra vigilance or not. These are matters for the inquiry. Our first priority is to ensure safety," she said.
She also added that the blasts seemed to be a planned attack as it happened almost simultaneously.
According to Dikshit, no group had claimed responsibility for the blasts.
Talking about the Sarojini Nagar blast, she said, "The situation was aggravated due to the presence of gas cylinders and firecrackers, which were being sold in the market. I pray that all those in the hospitals with injuries get well and go back home."
She refused to answer a question on whether the Delhi police should come under the Delhi government or not. "It is not the proper time to ask this question," she said.
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