104 people dead in Mumbai serial blasts: Police

MUMBAI: More than 100 peple are feared dead in the serial blast that rocked Mumbai this evening. Mumbai Police put the death toll at 104.

Injured are being treated at V N Desai Hospital(Phone no: 022-24130051), KEM Hospital and Sion Hospital (022-24090002)

Helpline for the Western Raiways are:022-22005388/23004000

The Maharashtra govt has declared that it will bear the medical expenses of the blast victims.

All local trains have been stopped in the Western railway region and BEST is plying special bus services in the Western region for the commuter's convenience.

The target was Mumbai's life-line -- its local train services -- timed to catch the evening rush. The first blast occurred in a first-class compartment of a local train near Khar station at 6.25 p.m.

Reports said the blast blew the train compartment to pieces and several passengers were seen jumping out. By 7 p.m. there were reports of five more blasts all targeting local trains.

The other blasts occurred at Bandra, Jogeshwari, Mahim Matunga, Santa Cruz, , Borivili and Bhayendar railway stations. All explosions were reported to have taken place in first class compartments of trains at a time when a large chunk of the commercial capital is returning home from office.

Televison reports said eight people had died while scores were seriously injured.

Mumbai was stunned before the panic set in. There was chaos and crush as people rushed to safety. Many were seen lying on the rail tracks.

Eyewitnesses said rain was hampering rescue work as the injured were carried to hospital.

Around 12 to 15 people injured at Santa Cruz station were taken to the nearby V N Desai hospital and another 20 were admitted to the KEM Hospital in Parel.

As people tried to reach their own, local phone lines were jammed and communication within the city and from outside became impossible. All trains on the Western line route have been suspended.

Police cordoned off all railway stations on the line and strict checking was carried out at the Central and Harbour sections of local trains services.

The blasts brought live fading memories of the BEST blasts of 2003. Reports said the city once again sprang to the rescue of its people, while official help was tardy.

Meanwhile, Delhi was put on high alert after the serial blasts in Srinagar and Mumbai through the day.

The Centre went into a huddle, with the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil rushing to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.