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.