The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has expressed his deep shock and hear-felt grief at the loss of innocent lives, including that of several school children, in a blast in Assam during Independence Day celebrations.

The Prime Minister spoke to the Chief Minister of Assam and conveyed his anguish and enquired about the welfare of the survivors and the families of the children who died in the explosion.

Dr. Manmohan Singh said that such dastardly acts show the terrorists' callous disregard for innocent lives. The perpetrators of such acts of violence will not be spared and the country's resolve to eliminate the scourge of terrorism remains unshaken, he added.

The Prime Minister expressed his heart-felt sympathy and condolences to the members of families of the victims.