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Seven Blasts Rock Mumbai,
183 Feared Dead

By Agencies

11 July, 2006
Countercurrents.org

Seven major explosions rocked the western Indian city of Mumbai (Bombay) on Tuesday. The serial blasts occurred at Borivili, Khar, Meera Road, Matunga, Jogeshwari, Bhayander railway stations and a seventh on the Khar-Santacruz subway.


Maharashtra DGP P S Pasricha said 183 people have been killed in the blasts. About 350 people have been injured.

Another report said at least 50 people were injured in Matunga alone.


All seven were high-intensity explosions and initial reports said wired time devices were used in all the cases.


Around 12 to 15 people were injured at Santa Cruz station. All of them were taken to nearby V N Desai Hospital. The entire first-class bogey has been emptied.


However, eyewitnesses at Matunga railway station said the RPF jawans arrived only after half-an-hour. They said at least 50 people have been injured.


The first blast occurred at Khar on a train going from Church Gate to Borivili. The explosion took place at 6:25 PM between Santacruz and Khar station.


All the explosions took place in first-class compartments of the trains. The Matunga blast appears to be the most severe blast at the moment.


The first five blasts occurred within a span of 15 minutes. Some of the injured have been taken to the Raheja hospital in Mahim.


Another 20 injured were admitted to the KEM hospital in Central area of Parel, hospital sources said.


Mumbai city has been put on red alert, all local trains on Western Railway have been stopped.


Relief and rescue operations have been affected because of heavy rains.


All local phones, including mobile services, in the city has been jammed apparently due to congestion in the system as anxious people tried to reach their loved ones.


All major railway stations, temples and major monuments in and around Mumbai have been cordoned off. All Western Railway services have been suspended.


Mumbai Police Commissioner AN Roy has appealed to the people of Mumbai to remain calm.


Union Home Secretary V K Duggal said that there is no connection between the Mumbai blasts and the Kashmir blasts, which took place earlier on Tuesday.


Intelligence sources, however, said the terror strikes were an attempt by the terrorists to divert India's attention from elections which are being held in Pak-occupied-Kashmir on Tuesday.


Police Commissioner Roy said the blasts could be related to the terrorists who were arrested a few days back. Police had also recovered huge consignments of RDX from several places, including Aurangabad, Nasik and Malegaon.


Intelligence sources said parts of Maharashtra have become haven for terror modules.


Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has called a special meeting on 1930 hrs (IST) on Tuesday to review security measures across the country.


All airports across the country have been put on high alert. However, no airport will be closed. Delhi has also been put under high security alert. Security has been stepped up in all the sensitive installations in the Capital.


A red alert has also been declared in Bangalore. Police have taken positions outside all vital installations.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a special meeting with the Union Home Minister and Home Secretary on the security situation. Immediately after the meeting, Home Minister Shivraj Patil left for Mumbai.


UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi is also likely to leave for Mumbai later on Tuesday night. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will also visit Mumbai on Wednesday.

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