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http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200607112101.htm 105 dead, 230 wounded as explosions rock Mumbai trains
Mumbai, July 11 (PTI): At least 105 people were killed and 230 injured in a string of seven terror blasts in first class compartments of suburban trains around 6PM during the peak hour traffic here today.
As the blasts ripped apart train compartments, mangled bodies of passengers were hurled out and survivors, many of them bleeding profusely, jostled to come out leading to chaotic scenes.
Maharashtra Chief Secretary D K Shankaran put the figure of dead at 105 and the injured at around 230.
The blasts occurred between 6 Pm and 6.30 PM at Mahim, Bandra, Matunga, Borivili, Mira Road, Jogeshwari and Khar when people from offices were returning home.
Hospital authorities in the city have confirmed arrival of over 100 bodies by 8:30 pm. A large of injured people, including commuters of the blasts-hit trains were admitted to various government and private hospitals in various parts of the city.
Mumbai Police Chief A.N. Roy said ``We are busy in the rescue operation. Our first priority is to rescue the injured people,'' he said. However, heavy monsoon downpours were hampering the effort.(Reports AP)
Police were also reportedly carrying out raids across the country following the explosions, presumably in search of suspects. One television report said a suspect was in custody.
A senior Mumbai police official, P.S. Pasricha, said the explosions were part of a well-coordinated attack. The country's home minister told Indian television that authorities had information that an attack was coming but did not know the time or place.
Witnesses reported seeing body parts strewn about stations, and Indian television news channels broadcast footage of bystanders carrying victims to ambulances and searching through the wreckage for survivors and bodies. Some of the injured were seen frantically dialing their cell phones.
The force of the blasts ripped doors and windows off carriages, and luggage and debris were strewn about, splattered with blood. Survivors were seen clutching bloody bandages to their heads and faces. Some were able to get up and walk from the station on their own.
Pranay Prabhakar, the spokesman for the Western Railway, confirmed that seven blasts had taken place. He said all trains had been suspended in Mumbai, and he appealed to the public to stay away from the train stations of the city of 16 million, India's financial and commercial center and principal port on the Arabian sea.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for what appeared to be bombings, but the blasts came in quick succession _ a common tactic employed by Kashmiri militants that have repeatedly targeted India's cities.
The first explosion hit the train at a railway station in the northwestern suburb of Khar, said a police officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.
India's CNN-IBN television news, which had a reporter traveling on the train, said the blast took place in a first-class car as the train was moving, ripping through the compartment and killing more than a dozen people
The Press Trust of India, citing railway officials, said all the blasts had hit first-class cars.
All of India's major cities were reportedly on high alert following the attacks, which came hours after a series of grenade attacks by Islamic extremists killed eight people in the main city of India's part of Kashmir.
Kashmir was divided between India and Pakistan in war after they gained independence from Britain in 1947, and they fought another full-scale conflict over the region in 1965.
Dozens of militant groups have been fighting Indian rule in Kashmir, demanding the mostly Muslim region's independence, or its merger with Pakistan.
India accuses Pakistan of aiding the militants, who run training camps on Pakistan's of Kashmir. Pakistan denies the charge.
After coming close to fighting a fourth war in 2002, Pakistan and India embarked on a peace process aimed at resolving their differences, including their conflicting claims to all of Jammu-Kashmir.
Sonia, Lalu, Patil rush to Mumbai
Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad will leave for Mumbai tonight for an on-the-spot review of the situation in the wake of the serial blasts.(Reports PTI)
The decision was announced by Patil after an hour-long emergency meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at his Race Course Road residence here.
"The toll may be around 50, may be more, may be less," he told reporters when asked about the number of those killed in the seven blasts.
As the blasts ripped apart train compartments, mangled bodies of passengers were hurled out and survivors, many of them bleeding profusely, jostled to come out leading to chaotic scenes.(Reports PTI)
The blasts occurred between 6 and 6.30 pm at Mahim, Bandra, Matunga, Borivili, Mira Road, Jogeshwari and Khar.
At Matunga station, the blast was so powerful that it not only ripped through the first class coach but also blew off a portion of the platform shed.
Bodies were scattered on the tracks while many injured, were attended to by fellow travellers on the platform before being rushed to nearby hospitals.
Police suspect that it is a pre-planned subversive plot similar to the explosions that had rocked Mumbai in 1993 and 2002 and 2003.
All suburban and long-distance trains on the Western railway lines were suspended and police cordoned off the major road intersections, railway stations and exit points.
A PTI staffer travelling by one of the affected suburban trains said the explosion took place in the first class compartment next to the one he was travelling in, ripping off the entire top of the compartment.
He saw a large number of injured being removed from the damaged compartment.
A PTI correspondent, who was waiting to catch a train at Santacruz railway station, saw an explosion in a train that was about to enter the station.
He reported that at least 25 people were injured in the blast that took place in the first class compartment.
Sudden heavy rains after an hour of the explosions made the job of rescuers difficult.
Confusion and fear prevailed among train commuters at all Western Railway stations as thousands could not make way to homes due to suspension of train services on the western line.
Passengers were asked to use central railway lines, that are functional, and BEST buses to reach their destinations.
However, passengers in a frenzy caught hold of any available four-wheeler, some times by force, at Churchgate station and other stations to get out of the commercial district.
Red alert in Maharashtra: CM
A red alert has been sounded in the state, Deshmukh said after reviewing security measures in the city and state.
Police in Mumbai have been placed on alert following the attacks, he said.
Deshmukh appealed to people to maintain calm and not venture out unless required.
The injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals, he said.
Stay calm, says police commissioner
Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy asserting that the first priority was to rescue the injured and rushing them to hospitals. Security has been tightened to see that nothing untoward takes place following the explosions.
"Our priority is also to ensure that nothing untoward takes place as a result of the blast," Roy told reporters here today.
Efforts were also being taken to run extra buses along the Western Railway route so that people could reach home. Western Railway route commuters could also take the Central Railway route for going home.
He asked the people to stay calm and not to go by any rumours.
To a question Roy said obviously a terrorist outfit would be behind the blasts because a normal human being could not have done this.
He said extra forces have been deployed in the city to ensure that no more incidents take place. Special arrangements were being made to transport people following the suspension of trains on the Western Railway route.
He again appealed to people not to go by rumours but help police in maintaining calm.
Centre keeping close watch on Mumbai situation
The Centre is in constant touch with Maharashtra Government in the wake of the serial blasts in suburban trains in Mumbai today and is closely monitoring the situation in the metropolis.
"We are closely watching the situation and gathering all information from railways and authorities in Mumbai," a senior Home Ministry official said and reiterated the Government's determination to fight terrorism.
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil is in touch with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.
A series of blasts took place at Matunga, Khar, Santacruz, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Bhayendar suburban railway stations earlier today.
We will defeat evil designs of terrorists: PM
In New Delhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tonight reviewed the security situation in the aftermath of blasts in Mumbai and Srinagar after which he expressed the government's resolve to "fight and defeat the evil designs of terrorists".
He appealed to the people to maintain calm in the face of terror attacks in Mumbai and Srinagar after an emergency meeting at his residence with Home Minister Shivraj Patil and others.
"We will work to defeat the evil designs of terrorists and will not allow them to succeed," Singh said in a statement read out by Patil after the meeting which was also attended by National Security Advisor M K Narayanan, Home Secretary V K Duggal and IB Chief E S L Narasimham.
He appealed to the people to remain calm and not to believe in rumours but carryout their activities normally. "The government will take all possible measures to maintain law and order and defeat the forces of terrorism."
Security at all major airports tightened
Security at all airports across the country was beefed up tonight following the synchronised serial blasts in running trains in Mumbai.
Quick reaction teams of paramilitary forces have been deployed at major airports, especially in Mumbai, Delhi and other metros, official sources said here.
The number of CISF personnel on duty at major airports have also been increased, they said.
The sources said the personnel on duty have been asked to take all precautions and conduct all necessary security checks at the airports.
However, they said flight operations would not be affected by the heightened security measures.
Shiva Sena demands resignation of DF-govt.
Shiv Sena today demanded resignation of the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led DF government in Maharashtra for "its utter failure to maintain law and order in the state which is evident from inability to avert this evening's serial blasts".
"This government has no right to remain in power even for a moment. The government's incompetence is solely responsible for today's incident", Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray said.
"When the spontaneous reaction was there to desecration of late Meenatai Thackeray bust, the government blamed it on Shiv Sainiks. It should now tell us who is resonsible for today's incident", he said.
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