By IANS
Mumbai : Keeping up their famed never-say-die spirit, Mumbaikars from all walks of life Wednesday paid homage to the victims of the serial bomb blasts that rocked the city's suburban railway network on this day last year, killing 187 people.
And in a show of the city's resolve, railway authorities rolled out one of the five coaches blown apart by the blast on July 11, 2006. Adorned with a small banner marking its significance, it left Churchgate station at 6:24 pm, precisely when the first blast had occurred.
Police beefed up security across the metropolis, as non-governmental organisations, the state government and railway authorities held a series of events in memory of the victims.
"Memorial services were organised at all the seven spots – from Mahim station in central Mumbai to Mira Road station in the western suburbs – where the attacks took place in a space of eleven minutes, for people to pay tribute and light candles in memory of the victims," said Western Railway's divisional railway manager (DRM) Satya Prakash.
People were seen offering floral tributes and lighting candles in these seven stations.
"Extra security has been provided throughout the city in view of the anniversary of the bombings. Security in and around the railway network has also been beefed up," said Maharashtra police chief P.S. Pasricha.
Locals attending the memorial services said the spirit of Mumbai could never be dented by terror attacks.
"I will pay my tributes to the victims. I plan to attend the memorial ceremony at the Matunga station with candles for those who lost their lives last July in the cowardly attacks. No terrorist outfit can kill the Mumbaikar's spirit," said Tunali Chakrovorty, who works for a public relation firm.
"The never-say-die spirit of Mumbai will live forever, come what may," she added.
But for the commuters travelling by the local trains, the feelings were mixed.
"I don't feel secure boarding the train, even though it has been a year since the serial blasts took place," said 19-year-old college student Rakesh Keshwa from Bhayendar in suburban Mumbai.
"After witnessing so much blood, witnessing the pain of human suffering, I feel I have learnt that one should live life to the fullest and take things as they come," said Megha Sood, a journalist and an eyewitness to the bombings.
Seven bombs exploded within minutes of each other on June 11 last year: at Khar Road station in the western suburbs, Bandra, Jogeshwari, Mahim in central Mumbai, Mira Road, Matunga in north central Mumbai and Borivili in the western suburbs.
The first explosion occurred at 6.24 pm and the last one at 6.35 pm.