 |
Serial Blasts Rock Mumbai – Part I |
Yesterday evening, seven blasts rocked suburban trains in Mumbai killing over 190 people and leaving another 625 injured. The blasts occurred between 6:00 to 6:30pm in first class compartments of trains at Mira-Bhayander, Borivli and Jogeshwari (in north Mumbai), Santacruz and Khar (in north-west Mumbai), and Mahim and Matunga (in central Mumbai) and on the Western Railway network.
As the blasts ripped apart train compartments, charred and distorted bodies of passengers were hurled out, most survivors bleeding profusely, jostled to come out, leading to chaotic scenes. An incident that people will remember for long as they strive to forget these bitter memories in which they lost their near and dear ones.
The reports of blasts that came in after a terrorist attack on a tourist bus in Srinagar killing 8 people earlier in the morning are definitely one amongst the many shameful acts of man against mankind. Pakistan, India’s rival over this disputed territory quickly condemned the bombings. Even so, India alleges that Pakistan supports the Muslim militants. A Kashmiri link to the blasts could slow or perhaps even derail the peace process that has gained momentum between India and Pakistan over the past several years.
As the world witnessed Mumbai’s gory nightmare, India was striving to provide help to the victims. Most TV channels were giving complete coverage of this incident. People around the blast affected areas were lending a helping hand to the survivors providing them with life saving drugs, basic amenities like food, shelter and helping them trace their friends and relatives. The whole nation was in a state of shock the whole of yesterday. Those who survived were strangled in the disarrayed Mumbai trying to reach news of safety to their families as all telephone and cell networks were taken down.
One friend of mine (working in TCS) who survived the blasts wrote by email:
Hi,
The tragedy of bomb blasts …I was in the same train where the biggest blast of the serial blasts happened today..at Bhayander..
This train is the normal train from Churchgate which starts at 5.19 PM and reaches Vasai around 6.40 PM..We sit in middle first class as a group alwyas and some of our friends sit in the first class near the ladies first class compartment..I don’t know what happened with them as there was havoc at that time…
We got a big thrust to our train and thought it was some technical problem in the train and may be the overhead wire or something broke down….but then the smoke started coming out…and we jumped on the tracks..and what we saw in the compartment just ahead of us was horrible…the compartment was totally shattered and it was blood all over..
We were not in a position to do anything but stand in a big shock..then slowly we came to our senses and saw police,fire brigade and ambulances approaching us…Local people who stay near the tracks also helped with water and first aid…
As India takes time to resurrect from this horrendous incident… July the 11th a date that will forever remain a fear in the hearts of the people of Mumbai as many others like March 17th, August 25th which are still fresh in the minds of the people.
What I fail to understand is this futile thirst for blood that has been wrecking lives of many Indians since Independence. After every attempt of perturbing the peace by the terrorists, Kashmir the disputed land remains and forever will remain to be an integral part of India.
The Mumbai bomb blasts on tuesday is a replica of the terror unleashed some 13 years ago . Same explosive substance , same modus operandi , same targets , same objective and possibly ; by the same masterminds and their operators. The great indian republic is unable to secure the custody/eliminate the likes of dawood or atleast defunct their networks , who are leaving a king’s life in pakistan. Our country is unable to exert enough pressure through deplomatic and other channels to make it impossible for pakistan to shield them so shamelessly.
This is the case in post 9/11 ,where the so-called world community have taken pledges to unite against terror . This is clear that uncle sam sponsored war on terror is one sided and self centrered .It turns a blind eye on the activities of countries like pakistan as long as it doesnt have a direct implication on them.
The Pakistani foreign minister’s emboldened statement that called upon india to settle the problems between the two countries to avoid terror strikes is nothing but a open threat.Our foreign ministrie’s response to it fell short of any self respecting country’s resolve in such situations.
India has to fight its own war on terror and on its terms.Any weak-kneed aproach is a recipe for more of such disasters to come.
Yes rightly put Shaan,
Its India’s own fight, and India must take it on itself.
But if we have to fight back terrorism, we need to make these terrorist organisations realise that there is no easy go for them. I feel there is a definite need for enforcement of anti-terrorism law. Withdrawal of POTA has given more freedom to them. It simply put forths a sign that we have taken one step behind.
Laws need to made more stringent, though I understand that POTA has been misused many times. But finally thats the best deal.