Two powerful blasts rocked Srinagar and Baramulla on Wednesday morning even as Prime Minister Vajpayee arrived here to inaugurate the crucial two-day inter-state council meeting.

At least three persons were injured in the blasts, the police said, adding security had been tightened around Srinagar city.

Vajpayee will be presiding over the 8th inter-state council meeting to be held at 4.30 pm on Wednesday at the Sher-i-Kashmir convention complex on the banks of Dal Lake here. Thousands of personnel drawn from the state police, CRPF and BSF have been deployed at the conference venue.

A powerful improvised explosive device (IED) planted near the wall of a house went off at high security Karan Nagar in civil lines area on Wednesday morning causing injuries to three civilians. Another blast took place in Baramulla in north Kashmir.

Meanwhile, normal life was affected in the city due to a general strike. All public transport and government offices remained closed for the day. The strike call was given by various militant groups, including the Hurriyat Conference and Syed Ali Shah Geelani, against the Prime Minister's visit.

Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani are expected to arrive here in the afternoon.

Official sources said that Indian Air Force's help was sought in the wake of militants' threat to use explosive-laden toy planes to create destruction.

Marine commandos from the Navy, who have been posted to guard the Manasbal lake in north Kashmir, would also be assisting divers of the state police and BSF in maintaining vigil at Dal lake.

Meanwhile, participants have started arriving in Srinagar. Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Subash Yadav, and Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister B L Barwah are among those who have arrived here with their teams.

The administrator of Dadra and Nagar Haveli has also reached Srinagar, besides teams from Assam and Bihar.