Saturday, September 9 2006 11:05 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Malegaon: With no reports of any untoward incident, authorities early this morning lifted the curfew, imposed after multiple blasts in this communally sensitive town of Maharashtra killed 38 people and injured 189 others yesterday (Sept 8, 2006).

A large number of Muslims offered their morning prayers as police and paramilitary forces kept a strict vigil and patrolled sensitive areas to main law and order.

Bodies of the persons killed in yesterday's blasts are being handed over to their relatives for burial.

State Deputy CM R R Patil, who also holds the Home portfolio, visited the municipal hospital at Wadia and the Noor private hospital late last night where the injured are admitted.

Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and State Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh are expected to visit the blast site this morning to take stock of the situation.

Two blasts rocked the Noorani mosque-cum-graveyard where people had come to pray for the dead on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat and another explosion took place at the busy Mushaira Chowk.