7/11 - Terror Strikes Mumbai
Its too difficult to go forward today without talking about the Mumbai serial bomb blasts that have happened at the various train stations. 
For a recap, the bombs happened during the rush hour this evening of 11th July (7/11) in Mumbai starting with the first one at 6.15 pm at Bandra train station. Six other bombs erupted in Matunga, Mahim, Khar, Jogeshwari, Borivali, and Mira Road train stations minutes after the first one. All of the blasts happened in an 11 minute time span, and all of these cities are found on a 60 km stretch on the western commuter train line.
The blasts happened in the first class compartments which carry regular travelers, mainly businessmen and professionals. It seems that so far around 150 people have died with so many more injured. It was told on one of the TV channels that those who carried the bombs had gone into the first class compartment and put it in the overhead area where bags/briefcases are kept.
Times of India reports that the elite terrorist group LeT, Lashkar-e-Toiba, and the Students of Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) were involved in instigating the bomb blasts, and it was done to cause communal tension in Mumbai. Those involved in this horrendous act should be hanged — how can you kill innocent people, its beyond my understanding. 
Of course it is the monsoon season, and it was raining on this very day. What was the affect of the bomb blasts in Mumbai? Roads were jammed, mobiles/communication lines were down, and thousands of panic filled commuters walked home. There were so many people that died as they waited on the platform for the trains or they tried to jump off the running train to save their own life. Others that were in the first class compartment were physically crushed. As I looked through the pictures on TV and the Internet, there were just too many limbs that were lying everywhere near the trains or platforms.
What is important to note is how Mumbai gets together when any part of it is hit. Everybody talks about how Mumbaites don’t have time for themselves so how they can time for others, but when a haadsa happens, they are there for each other. I have seen the photos of those helping the injured get to a hospital, commuters giving each other lifts so that they can reach home, and the rest who are donating blood or doing whatever is needed of them to help save a life. Well done Mumbaites, that’s the spirit of Mumbai. 
It happened last year during the Terrible Tuesday flood, and also now where Mumbai gets its act together to clean up the mess that has been created. 
Railway Minister, Laloo Prasad Yadav, has said that the families of those who have died will receive 5 lakh rupees compensation, and those who are hospitalized due to the blasts will receive free medical treatment. Is that enough? Is India compensating properly to those whose lives have been lost/paralyzed?
I SMSed my cousin Heena to make sure that nani, mamas, mamis, and my cousins were alright. She wrote back and let me know that they all are fine. Then our buddy Kunal also lives in Santa Cruz, and I SMSed him too. He also responded via instant messenger that he & his family are fine. We also received an SMS from our family friends, Prasad & Kavita. They are also safe and sound.
NP.com would like to send out our blessings to the people of Mumbai. Mata Rani is watching and will remain as your strength through this difficult time.
Source: Hindustan Times
Alvida. Jai Mata Di.
July 12th, 2006 at 12:31 am
Really Really Sad…pics are depressing..but its all true..when will all this stop in our Country…what do these grps want…these ppl shud be hanged….
the worst part is the timings of these blasts..peak rush hr..ppl returning home from work to be with their families…
ha 5 lacs dene se kya hoga…ppl who have lost their loved ones..life wont be normal for them again…
The first few videos that I saw on the news channels..were of the local ppl carrying the dead bodies in their hands…all the eateries near the railway stations provided water/food to the ppl stranded on the roads…
July 12th, 2006 at 1:03 am
July 12th, 2006 at 1:07 am
the way ppl are helping by donating blood is remarkable…
July 12th, 2006 at 1:33 am
Terrible day….!! Even I wonder, how can people kill other eople, and that too innocents!! Extremely sad incident!!
But, how can government secure the local trains in mumbai? All stations over there have multiple entry-exit points. During rush hours, there are almost 250-300 persons per compartment. Then, almost everybody carries a bag, basket, etc. In short, locals are very easy targets for militants. I hope the government learns something and improves the security of public places in major cities.
July 12th, 2006 at 4:04 am
Hi Poonam
I am glad to know that all your family members are safe. It was very tragic yesterday. It is always the innocent people who suffers.
:(
Nidhi
July 12th, 2006 at 4:10 am
I donno waht to say.. its such a terrible thing to happen.. n why is it happening every now n then..
not jus in Mumbai.. Srinagar too had 6 bomb blasts y’day and one Bengali tourist family bore the maximum brunt in tht..
i too called my cousin sis n fly livin’ thr to confirm if they were safe.. thankfully they were.. but, what abt the families who’ve lost their loved ones.. not able to digest.. not able to think of it too…
U know, i was telling my friend y’day abt the same thing thts written there.. like mumbaikars supporting each other.. every news channel was saying the same thing.
There is one point here.. this is like a psychological effect.. i mean saying tht we r helping each other makes ppl who watch feel less panicky.. n also thr will be a positive effect due to this.. n more ppl will come to help…
July 12th, 2006 at 9:13 am
I am praying for the people of Mumbai and India!! It is a sad day.
July 12th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
5 lac toh deh raha hai Laloo Prasad - warna shayad itna bhi umeed nahi rakhna chaiye.
But on a positive, it has been great to see people help people, like you said. 
Definitely Mary.
True Mehak.
Most definitely sad Manpreet.
Why can’t it be done to make trains more secure? Don’t other big cities such as Tokyo and London have security measures put into place in their local trains? I am darn sure that they do — and I think its time that Mumbai protects its lifeline. The government needs to wake up and take some action, and I hope that it happens. Junta support will definitely be needed. 
Yes definitely Nidhi.
I am glad that you are safe too. 
I think you are very much right Prasad about the psychological effect — sometimes Mumbai gets a bad hype that its a rude city or Mumbaikars don’t have time for anyone, but I think there is a counter-statement to that. Mumbaikars have proved tragedy after tragedy that its not easy to put them down. They have really gotten together as one to help each other. Good to hear that your family is fine.
Yes so are we Joy.
July 12th, 2006 at 10:13 pm
It’s really sad … I was watching CNN and saw this breaking news. It was shocking … bombs are everywhere. It’s really true like you said, people gotten together and helped each others. God bless the people and give strength to them …
Glad that your family are fine
July 13th, 2006 at 1:01 am
Actually, I meant to say that securing trains in bombay will be a herculean task for the government. Just look at the sheer number of people who travel in locals over there. Compare it with any other transit system in the world - be it london, NY, paris etc.
It’s very difficult to frisk every passenger and screen his/her luggage… the only thing they can do is… have very few entry/exit points.. install camera’s in compartments/stations… that’s it!
BTW, even after so called first world security system, london metro was also targeted last year.. so you see the problem is much bigger than you can even imagine!
July 13th, 2006 at 1:18 am
25 lakh ppl travel by train everyday. 4500/train at peak time. not possible to hv a security system to chk all this. also u hv to remember that the new bombs are either rdx or plastic ones which cannot be really detected.
its been a crazy week here. first the rains then the bandh n then this. Poonam we saw the train in real, pictures dont do justice. i just cudnt belv how the entire coach was blown. it was like a movie scene…
i got ur sms but networks were totally jammed n no sms or phone calls went thru…
did u kn that laloo n sonia coming here created more nuisance… they blocked the roads n ppl were asked to leave their work in the hospitals n clean the roads… there was caos on the roads as ppl were desperate to get back home n on top coz of these guys they were stuck for a few hrs more…
on my way back home we saw tons n tons of ppl with biscuits/water/tea/wadas handing it out to neone n everyone… no one bothered ab the caste or crap like that…
a few days back Readers Digest carried an article saying bombay is the rudest city in the world… hmmm aint that interesting… i wonder what they hv to say now…
July 13th, 2006 at 9:53 am
Until India deals with Pakistan for once and all, these bombings & killings are going to keep happening. Enough is enough!! I don’t believe in violence, but Jab Laato Ke Bhoot Baaton Se Nahi Maante, what can one do. India has suffered so much in the past, and is still suffering… it has tried to deal with Pakistan peacefully, but Pakistan is such a shameless and cunning creature. NP, don’t ban me from your blog now for making these comments. :) I don’t know why India cannot take a stand against Pak in the battlefield. They have tried enough through diplomatic channels, but Pak is not trustworthy. While Indian PM was in Lahore to promote a peace bus summit, Pak Army was in the war room planning the Kargil invasion. India has suffered so much at the hands of terrorism. No other country in the world would show as much tolerance as India has. I guess this is what sets India apart too. Comments…??
July 13th, 2006 at 5:35 pm
I understand what you are saying Manpreet, and I agree that it would be a huge task, but it is necessary that the government take action. Cameras would be a start — atleast they would have video; take lesser time to discover who did it, how it was done, etc… Good point you had made.
You mentioned a great point Kunal about Mumbai being one of the rudest cities, even I had thought about that being a point which I ended up not writing about. I think it is something that should be looked at because it is evident that people were helping each other during this tried time. If it was a rude city then people would care more about getting their own self home instead of helping with tea/water or helping injured people getting to the hospital.
As for the security system, I understand that its something that is totally not feasible, but something needs to be done. Video cameras should be installed, that would be a recommendation or more security guards, etc… Those would be starters in taking action on this event.
I am not surprised about Laloo Prasad and Sonia causing more of a nuisance. :???:
First of all Joy, we wouldn’t ban you based on your opinion.
I think what you are saying has a point to it — but is it worth having a war with them? Or even causing a nuclear war that may cause more life to be lost than if no action is taken? I just don’t think that its India’s place at this moment in time when it has the highest potential of growing to be a power, that it takes a risk to do something to Pakistan. One of the other issues I see with this is that once you hurt Pak you will have more troubles ahead of you because Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and many other Islamic countries will be after you. Not only other countries, but a revolt of those Islamic extremists within India will rise — so now you not only have external pressure, but internal issues too.
It would be nice to completing ax out Pak and teach them a lesson, but this isn’t the time or place, my thoughts.
July 13th, 2006 at 6:43 pm
It is such a sad thing that happened…am really glad that ur family is fine but at the same time our heart goes out to each one of those innocent souls who lost their lives and to their families!
July 14th, 2006 at 1:57 am
It was really tragic n sad…
July 14th, 2006 at 6:00 am
Woa they heard u Poonam
they hv installed CCTV at 4 main stations… hope that helps…
July 14th, 2006 at 9:09 am
I definitely see your point Poonam. There is a huge risk of a nuclear war, especially from Pak’s side. I think India should stop this so called peace process with them, seal all its borders (I don’t know how practical that is, but worth a thought…), and may be apply some economic sanctions against them. The other day I was reading that India had donated $25 Million to Pak for the earthquake victims. How on earth do we know that, that money is actually going to be used where it should be, and not against India’s national interests!!?? India needs to stop being “nice” for now. Really! enough is enough.
(Ok, I’ll stop being mean now. :) My next comment would be full of love and Bhai-Chaara)
July 14th, 2006 at 5:10 pm
Agreed Ankur.
Good to hear Kunal.
I agree with you in that Joy that India should stop being nice or overly nice.
Sealing border might be good — but terrorists always seem to find a way to get through. 
Anyway, thanks for the good points! 