By IANS,
New Delhi : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will visit Mumbai later Thursday, a day after India’s financial and entertainment hub was hit by three serial blasts that killed 17 people and injured 141, an official said.
“The prime minister will be visiting Mumbai today (Thursday),” an official in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) told IANS.
However, the timing of the visit was not revealed for security reasons. But it is likely that Manmohan Singh will take off from the capital around 5.30 p.m., sources said. Manmohan Singh is scheduled to leave after his first meeting with his new council of ministers, official sources said.
The prime minister is expected to visit the hospitals where the people injured in the triple blasts are being treated. Manmohan Singh will also review the security situation with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and senior officials.
The prime minister has also sanctioned compensation of Rs.200,000 each to the families of those killed, Rs.100,000 for the injured, the PMO official said.
Manmohan Singh’s visit to the Maximum City will come hours after Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s trip to Mumbai after the bombings, which occurred 31 months after 10 Pakistani terrorists went on a killing spree in the city, slaughtering 166 Indians and foreigners Nov 26-29, 2008.
Sonia Gandhi will accompany the prime minister, Congress souces told IANS.
Gandhi took the decision after consulations with the prime minister, her colleagues in the Congress and party leaders in Maharashtra, a party leader said.
“It was felt that the visit of the two leaders will address the concerns of the people about return of the terror. It is a necessary visit when the UPA-II government is trying for a face-lift,” he added.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani also visited Mumbai Thursday and lashed out at the Manmohan Singh government for not being able to tackle terrorism.