62 dead in near-simultaneous blasts in northeastern India

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) - A series of blasts ripped nearly simultaneously Thursday through crowded areas of a remote state in India, killing 62 people and wounding 300, an official in Assam state told CNN.

Assam Home Commissioner Rajiv Kumar Bora said other small blasts occurred in the northeastern state in addition to the nine bombs; authorities believe those may be from kitchen gas cylinders, he said.

Following the explosions, black smoke poured into the air. On the ground, charred and burned vehicles, their windows punched out and their metal frames mangled, remained on the streets. Police officers combed areas afterward for unexploded bombs, authorities said.