Four JD(S) workers from Karnataka killed in Sri Lanka blasts confirms HD Kumaraswamy

Four JD(S) workers from Karnataka, who were on a visit to Sri Lanka, have died in the multiple blasts in the island country, according to Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

"External affairs Min. @SushmaSwaraj has confirmed the death of two Kannadigas, KG Hanumantharayappa and M Rangappa, in the bomb blasts in #Colombo. I am deeply shocked at the loss of our JDS party workers, whom I know personally. We stand with their families in this hour of grief," Kumaraswamy tweeted on Monday.

Five other JD(S) workers have gone missing after multiple blasts, he said.

The death toll rose to 4 JD(S) workers as confirmed by HD Kumaraswamy on Twitter. The overall death toll was recorded at 290.

"I am in constant touch with the Indian High Commission on the reports of those missing," he added.

A string of eight powerful blasts, including suicide attacks, struck churches and luxury hotels frequented by foreigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing over 290 people and shattering a decade of peace in the island nation since the end of the brutal civil war with the LTTE.

Kumaraswamy had on Sunday strongly condemned the terrorist attack, saying terrorism is an act of cowardice and an attack on humanity.

"Terrorism is an act of cowardice and an attack on humanity. I strongly condemn the #TerroristAttack in #Colombo, Sri Lanka, where over 150 people have been killed and more than 300 injured," he had tweeted.

Kumaraswamy had later on Monday confirmed that four JD(S) workers had died in the blasts. He tweeted, I am deeply pained at the loss of our people in the #colombo attacks. Out of the seven missing after the #TerrorAttack, four have been declared dead. Their names are Lakshmana Gowda Ramesh, K M Lakshminarayan, M Rangappa and KG Hanumantharayappa.

He also tweeted stating that the three other JD(S) workers were still missing. He tweeted, “The three others who are missing are H Shivu Kumar, A Maregowda and H Puttaraju. The Chief Secretary’s office is in constant touch with the Resident Commissioner at Karnataka Bhavan, New Delhi, and the families of the victims and the missing persons for further information on them.”

“I am deeply pained at the loss of their lives in the heinous attack. They were also committed workers of our party and their death has brought immense sorrow to us,” said HD Kumaraswamy.

(with inputs from PTI)