By IANS,
Mumbai: Up to 13 people were killed and more than 100 injured as three deafening bombs struck three busy areas of Mumbai within minutes of each other Wednesday evening, in the first terror attack in India’s financial capital after 2008.
The first blast took place just before 7 p.m. at the Opera House area in south Mumbai. Within 10 minutes, in a clearly well-coordinated operation, two more explosions occurred — at Zaveri Bazar and Dadar West, within a radius of six kilometers.
All three areas were packed with motorists and pedestrians returning home after work when the evening calm was shattered.
The bombs had been concealed in different places — in a parked car in Dadar West, not far from the Shiv Sena headquarters, and in an umbrella at the Zaveri Bazar.
People were hit by flying shrapnel from the improvised explosive devices used in the attacks, police and home ministry officials in Mumbai and New Delhi said. Some died instantly. Some lost their limbs.
Mumbai residents detailed how, once relative calm was restored, people came to each other’s rescue, rushing the injured and the dying to nearest hospitals.
Maharashtra’s Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan put the death toll at 13 and said 87 were injured. In New Delhi, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said at least 10 people were killed and 54 had been hospitalized.
“The number of injured could be higher. The death toll could rise,” he said, quickly adding that Mumbai — India’s financial and movie capital — was on high alert.
“This was a coordinated attack by terrorists,” said Chidambaram.
It is the first terror attack in Mumbai after Pakistani terrorists ravaged the city in November 2008, leaving 166 Indians and foreigners dead.
Although panic gripped Mumbai as news of the blasts spread like wildfire, the situation appeared to settle down within about two hours as a large number of policemen were deployed.
Police Commissioner Aroop Patnaik had earlier said that 10-15 people had been killed.
In New Delhi, Home Secretary R.K. Singh put the number of injured at more than 100.
The most powerful blast took place in the Opera House area, causing widespread destruction.
“There was a big noise,” a member of the Mumbai Diamond Merchants Association said. He said he saw 30-35 people sprawled on the ground, some crying in pain. Two or three had their legs blown off.
The Opera House is near the Charni Road railway station.
At Dadar, the explosion took place in a parked car near a bus stop at the crowded Kabutarkhana area, barely 500 meters from another railway station.
In Zaveri Bazar, a jewellery hub, the Khau Gully — famous for its snacks — was hit. The bomb had been concealed in an umbrella, the chief minister said.
In no time, panic set in. One witness said he thought there had been “some shooting”. But he said he soon realized that a bomb had gone off.
Police fanned out all over the city, preparing for the worst. They had a tough time controlling the crowds in the three places.
Leaders in New Delhi and Mumbai appealed for peace.
Chidambaram asked the people of Mumbai to “remain clam and maintain peace”. Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora, an MP from Mumbai, also appealed for calm.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a quick talk with the Maharashtra chief minister.
Chidambaram said the National Security Guards (NSG) in Mumbai was on standby while two teams of forensic experts were flying from Hyderabad and New Delhi to the city.