3 BLASTS ROCK MUMBAI, 21 DEAD, 141 INJURED

Dadar and the Opera House.‎Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan told media that latest attack killed 20 people, and home ministry sources said the toll was likely to rise.

Television footage showed dozens of police officials, several of them armed, at the sites of the explosion and at least one car with its windows shattered. A photograph showed victims of a blast at the Zaveri Bazaar crowding into the back of a cargo truck to be taken to a hospital.

Because of the close timing of the string of explosions, “we infer that this was a coordinated attack by terrorists,” home minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said.

In New Delhi, the Union Home Ministry said the multiple explosions were a terror strike and that Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) were used. Top security and Home Ministry officials are now meeting to assess the situation. Home Ministry is in touch with the Maharashtra government on the issue. Police said all the three blasts took place in crowded markets and busy areas.

Mumbai Police spokesperson Nisar Tamboli said, the first explosion took place in south Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazaar, near famous Mumbadevi temple, this evening in which some people were injured. The bustling market also has a number of jewellery shops.

The second explosion was reported in a taxi in Dadar area, he said. The site of the explosion was close to Dadar railway station.

The third blast was reported from Opera House in Charni. Teams of Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) have rushed to the spots. The Mumbai Police and the fire brigade have rushed to the site of explosions. Security has been beefed up across Mumbai. Maharashtra’s Public Works Department Minister, Mr. Chhagan Bhujbal appealed to the people not to panic and stay calm.

The Home Ministry has confirmed that Mumbai blasts are a terrorist handiwork. Talking to media
in New Delhi, the Internal Security Secretary Mr. U. K. Bansal said that multiple explosions were a terror strike and that Improvised Explosive Devices(IED) were used in the serial blasts. The Home Secretary Mr. R. K. Singh said that the Ministry is in touch with Mumbai Police after reports of multiple explosions. A red-alert has also been sounded across the country. He said, a National Investigation Agency Team has left for Mumbai and the National Security Guard has been put on alert. The Home Ministry sources said that one BSF plane has left for Mumbai with NSG personnel and forensic experts.

The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan following the blasts. The PMO sources said that the situation is being monitored constantly.

Update as at 11:00 PM, on serial blasts in Mumbai on 13th July 2011

·         The number of deaths    : 21

·         The number of injured : 141

HOSPITAL WISE DETAILS ARE  AS UNDER

Seven (07) member team from  CFSL from Delhi has left for Mumbai and 05 member from Pune.

NIA team of 06 members from Delhi has left for Mumbai. NIA is already having a team of  Seven (07)  members in Mumbai.