2006 Mumbai train bombings
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The 11 July Mumbai bombings were a series of seven bomb blasts that took place on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai, India's financial centre and largest city, on 11 July 2006.[1]
Details
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, Khar Road, Santacruz, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Bhayandar.[2][3]
These bomb attacks in Mumbai came hours after a series of grenade attacks in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir. In Srinagar eight persons, including six tourists from West Bengal, were reported to have been killed in the attacks reportedly carried out by unidentified Islamic extremists.[citation needed] Home Secretary V.K. Duggal has said, however, that there is no link[4] between the Srinagar and Mumbai bomb blasts.
Injuries and fatalities
The Police Commissioner of Mumbai, Mr A N Roy, indicated more than 100 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 [5] reports that at least 100 are dead. The Times Now channel [6] reports that 30 are dead. Police control has reported 63 passengers have been killed and 400 are injured.[7] MSNBC[8] and Reuters [9] report that 135 are dead.
| 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 | |
| Bandra | - | - | |
| Total | |||
Contacts Phone
- Police Control Room - 100
- Railway Help Line - 91-22-22005388
- Hinduja Hospital - 91-22-26207254
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.[10]
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.[11]
Rescue and relief operations
- The railway ministry announced ex-gratia of IN Rs 1,00,000 to the next of kin of those who died in the explosion.
- Injured would be sanctioned IN Rs 50,000 each.
Notes and references
- ^ Dozens killed as at least 7 explosions rock commuter trains in Mumbia, India, 570News, 11 July 2006
- ^ Blasts rock Mumbai rail network, BBC News
- ^ Tuesday terror: Six blasts rock Mumbai railway stations, Times of India
- ^ [1]
- ^ (Associated Press)
- ^ (Reuters/Times Now channel)
- ^ Rediff
- ^ (MSNBC)
- ^ (Reuters)
- ^ India's Commercial Hub Mumbai Rocked by 5 Explosions (Update2), Bloomberg, 11 July 2006
- ^ Zee News - Terror returns to Mumbai, at least 100 killed in serial blasts.
See also
- 1993 Mumbai bombings - another series of bombings that occured in Mumbai
- 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings - similar precedent
- 7 July 2005 London bombings - a similar series of bombings involving a transport system
External links
