VOA标准英语2008年-Bomb Blasts Kill, Maim Scores in Western India

By Steve Herman
New Delhi
13 May 2008

At least 60 people have been killed and 200 injured in bomb explosions in Rajasthan's capital, the old walled city of Jaipur, in western India.  Initial reports say seven bombs detonated, which police believe were placed on bicycles or motor scooters.  VOA Correspondent Steve Herman reports from New Delhi.

The blasts, occurring during a period of 12 minutes, shook Rajasthan's capital of Jaipur. 

Police say the bombs were placed within a two-kilometer radius¹ and exploded during the busy evening rush hour in some of the city's most crowded venues², including markets and a Hindu temple where devotees had gathered for prayer.

Panic-stricken residents and tourists stampeded from the blast sites where there were mangled³ heaps of bicycles and rickshaws among the dead and wounded. 

The state's chief minister, Vasundhara Raje, spoke⁴ briefly⁵ to reporters on her way to inspect the devastation⁶.

The state's top politician says she will not tolerate terrorism in Rajasthan, but does not want to comment further until she can view firsthand the tragic⁷ scenes where so many innocent people have died.

It is the first time for Jaipur, known as the Pink City for the color of its 18th century monuments, to have been the target of such attacks.  The city attracts thousands of foreign tourists daily.

Following the blasts, India's two largest cities New Delhi and Mumbai were put on high alert.  The home ministry⁸ says it has told all state governments to increase security arrangements.

A Member of Parliament from Rajasthan, Sachin Pilot, speaking to the CNN-IBN network, called the attacks well-coordinated.

"It clearly shows a lot of planning and meticulous⁹ thought has been given to this," he said.  "All of these areas in the heart of Jaipur city are one of the most densely¹⁰ populated areas.  Evening time is a bustling¹¹ time for bazaars¹².  I think the idea was to inflict¹³ maximum damage to life and property."

Media reports quote government officials singling out for blame the Bangladesh-based extremist group, Harkatul-Jehad-al-Islami.  It has been suspected in at least six terrorist attacks in India during the past five years.

India has faced a number of bombings in recent years.  Two explosions last year in Hyderabad killed 43 people.  Two years ago, seven bombings struck Mumbai's commuter¹⁴ rail network, killing¹⁵ nearly 200 people.  In the capital, New Delhi, three markets were bombed in 2005, killing 62 people.

1 radius   

n.半径，半径范围；有效航程，范围，界限

参考例句：

• He has visited every shop within a radius of two miles.周围两英里以内的店铺他都去过。
• We are measuring the radius of the circle.我们正在测量圆的半径。

2 venues   

n.聚集地点( venue的名词复数 )；会场；（尤指）体育比赛场所；犯罪地点

参考例句：

• The band will be playing at 20 different venues on their UK tour. 这个乐队在英国巡回演出期间将在20个不同的地点演出。
• Farmers market corner, 800 meters long, 60 meters wide livestock trading venues. 农牧市场东北角，有长800米，宽60米的牲畜交易场地。 来自互联网

3 mangled   

vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• His hand was mangled in the machine. 他的手卷到机器里轧烂了。
• He was off work because he'd mangled his hand in a machine. 他没上班，因为他的手给机器严重压伤了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

6 devastation   

n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤

参考例句：

• The bomb caused widespread devastation. 炸弹造成大面积破坏。
• There was devastation on every side. 到处都是破坏的创伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

8 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

9 meticulous   

adj.极其仔细的，一丝不苟的

参考例句：

• We'll have to handle the matter with meticulous care.这事一点不能含糊。
• She is meticulous in her presentation of facts.她介绍事实十分详细。

10 densely   

ad.密集地；浓厚地

参考例句：

• A grove of trees shadowed the house densely. 树丛把这幢房子遮蔽得很密实。
• We passed through miles of densely wooded country. 我们穿过好几英里茂密的林地。

11 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

12 bazaars   

（东方国家的）市场( bazaar的名词复数 )； 义卖； 义卖市场； （出售花哨商品等的）小商品市场

参考例句：

• When the sky chooses, glory can rain into the Chandrapore bazaars. 如果天公有意，昌德拉卜的集市也会大放光彩。
• He visited the shops and bazaars. 他视察起各色铺子和市场来。

13 inflict   

vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担

参考例句：

• Don't inflict your ideas on me.不要把你的想法强加于我。
• Don't inflict damage on any person.不要伤害任何人。

14 commuter   

n.(尤指市郊之间)乘公交车辆上下班者

参考例句：

• Police cordoned off the road and diverted commuter traffic. 警察封锁了道路并分流交通。
• She accidentally stepped on his foot on a crowded commuter train. 她在拥挤的通勤列车上不小心踩到了他的脚。

15 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。