Blast in mumbai-11th july 2006



The bombs were placed on trains plying on the western line of the suburban ("local") train network, which form the backbone of the transportation network of the city. The first blast took place at 18:30 IST (13:00 UTC), and continued for at least an hour afterwards. This is the time of day when the number of people returning home from work is at its peak. The bombs had been placed in first-class compartments of several trains running from Churchgate, the city centre end of the western railway line, to the western suburbs of the city. They went off at or in the near vicinity of the suburban railway stations of Matunga Road, Khar Road, Santacruz, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Bhayandar.


These bomb attacks in Mumbai came hours after a series of grenade attacks in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. Home Secretary V.K. Duggal has said, however, that there is no link between the Srinagar and Mumbai bomb blasts.


Injuries and fatalities
11 July 2006 Mumbai train bombings
Confirmed casualties
Place Deaths Injured Sources
Mahim 3 27
Borivali 3 12
Jogeshwari 3 16
Khar Road 2 14
Matunga 2 23
Mira Road - -
Santacruz 2 39



The Police Commissioner of Mumbai, Mr A N Roy, indicated more than 137 killed and hundreds wounded in these blasts; he also added that "there have been seven blasts along the city's commuter rail network, which is among the most crowded in the world." The entire Western Railway has been shut down , while services are running on the Central Railway Suburban lines. The Associated Press reports that at least 137 are dead. MSNBC and Reuters report that 135 are dead.



Response
A state of high alert was declared in India's major cities. Both the airports in Mumbai have been placed on high alert. The western line of the Mumbai suburban rail network has been shut down, and stringent security arrangements, including frisking and searching of commuters, has been instituted on the other lines of the network. The city's bus service, the BEST, has pressed extra buses into service to transport stranded commuters home.


Investigation
The New Delhi police in New Delhi's Jungpura area arrested a person who is said to be associated with these bomb blasts; two kilograms of RDX were reportedly found with him.However, no official claim of responsibility has been made.


Rescue and relief operations

CNN-IBN TV reportThe railway ministry announced ex-gratia payments of IN Rs 100,000 (approx. US$2,000) to the next of kin of those who died in the explosion.
The injured would be given IN Rs 50,000 (approx. US$1,000) each.

Reaction
Various senior Political figures condemmed the attacks including the President, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Railways Minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav, and the President of the Indian National Congress (the reigning party), Sonia Gandhi.

L. K. Advani, President of the BJP (the main opposition party) has also expressed shock, while saying that the UPA Government was soft on terrorists.