By TCN News Desk,
Mumbai/New Delhi: Three explosions shocked the city of Mumbai between 6.30 and 7 in the evening on Wednesday. Two of them happened in South Mumbai at Opera House and in Zaveri Bazar and one in central Mumbai at Dadar West.
According to reports till 10: 45 tonight 20 people have reportedly been dead and 113 injured. Home Minster Chidambaram, who chaired an emergency meeting after the serial blasts, called it a “coordinated attack” said that the toll could further rise.
According to the reports, Chidambaram is expected to visit Mumbai tonight or early tomorrow morning. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked CM Ashok Chavan to keep him posted about the updates.
The blast timings as released by the Mumbai police are: Zaveri Bazar 6:54 pm, Opera House 6:55 pm, Dadar 7:05 pm. In last 9 years this is the third blast in100 meter radiance of Zaveri Bazar.
The CM of Maharashtra Ashok Chavan said that the blast at Opera house was the strongest of the three. Chavan refused to comment on who might be responsible for the blasts or if the government had prior intelligence about it.
Calling it as an “attack on only the heart of Mumbai but also an attack on the heart of India,” Chavan said that, “our priority now is to make sure that there are no more bobs hidden on other places. We are also doing our best in providing medical help to the injured.”
The blast in Dadar West occurred in a car whereas according to city cops Zaveri Bazaar blast might have been triggered in a meter box. The Opera House blast took place at Prasad Chamber.
Importantly Home Minstry, Mumbai police have confirmed the terror angle of the blasts but no agency is ready to speculate on those who might be behind the blasts. Home Ministry has also confirmed about Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) being used in the blasts. The entire city has been sealed and put on high alert.
The home ministry has said it would be premature to name the terrorist group behind the serial blasts in Mumbai that killed at least 10 people and left scores injured.
“It would be premature to name the organization behind the blasts. It is, however, certain that a terrorist organization is behind the blast,” U.K. Bansal, secretary (Internal Security) in the home ministry.
Teams of National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Guards (NSG) and several forensic experts have been airlifted to the spots.
Two alleged IM men were arrested by Mumbai police yesterday but the CM Chavan and Mumbai police have consistently refused to say whether they had prior intelligence about the blasts. In fact the Home Ministry was very candid in accepting that there were no prior alerts sent to the state about any possible blast.
Dead bodies and injured are in Saifee hospital, JJ Hospital, St. George Hospital and GT Hospital.
Helpline Numbers: KEM (022-24136051), Nair (022-23085379), Harkishandas (23855555 / 30095555), Saifee (22 6757 0111)
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