Explosion at Rio: Sushma Swaraj assures safety for Indian contingent

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj assured that the Indian contingent would be provided with adequate safety in the wake of the explosion and multiple shooting incidents in Rio de Janeiro, the city that is hosting the Rio Olympics.

"The Indian Ambassador Sunil Lal is camping in Rio and has been in constant touch with me," the minister tweeted guaranteeing the safety of the Indians.

The games were off to a troubled start when a blast erupted near the cycling race's finish line and a bullet ripped through the media tent at the equestrian venue. The bullet left visible holes on the wall, also caused considerable scare among the onlookers.

While the crowd feared it to be a terror attack, it was the Brazilian military that carried out a controlled explosion near the Copacabana finish line of men's road cycling race.

In yet another shooting incident, a woman was shot and killed by armed assailants near the Olympic Boulevard, leading to a troubled start for the event in which 118 Indian sportspeople are also participating.