Mumbai blast: Death toll rising, over 100 injured

Serial blasts struck Mumbai this evening, less than three years after the 26/11 terrorist attacks of 2008. The three blasts, in sequence, were timed at 6.30 pm, 6.45 pm, and 7 pm IST, and targeted in that order Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House and the Kabutarkhana area of Dadar West. Zaveri Bazaar, centre of the jewelry industry, is adjacent the iconic Mumbadevi temple from which the city derives its name; both Zaveri Bazaar and Kabutarkhana were also targeted in the 1993 serial blasts.

A team of NIA officials, forensics experts and anti-terrorist operatives are en route to Bombay on a BSF special plane; an NSG unit is on standby on the ground. Home Minister P Chidambaram has chaired a meeting of senior Cabinet ministers and officials while Maharashtra
Chief Minister Prithviraj Chauhan is coordinating relief and rescue operations on the ground.

The city, which has witnessed multiple acts of terrorism over the years, has been reacting with abnormal calm; citizens have been providing help and shelter to those in need with offers of help flooding social media sites such as Twitter.

Here's a spreadsheet that's tracking offers and requests of help.

Those injured have been rushed to JJ and KEM hospital. Chief Minister Chauhan confirms 21 dead and 113 injured so far; extent of injuries is not clearly known and casualties are expected to rise.

In spite of some resistance earlier on and fears of being stopped by the police at toll booths, the Mumbai cabbie union has decided that taxis will continue to ply well past midnight tonight. Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport has confirmed via this tweet that it's operational.

10:35 pm: PM Manmohan Singh's statement:

I strongly condemn the bomb blasts in Mumbai this evening. I have asked the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to do whatever is possible to provide relief to the injured and to the families of the deceased citizens. I have also asked Union Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram to provide all possible expert assistance to the State Government. I appeal to people of Mumbai to remain calm and show a united face.

10:27 pm: 'I was at my shop when I heard a deafening sound. I ran out to see what has happened. I saw a building rattling and people running here and there', said a eyewitness at one of the blast site.

10:22 pm: The blasts that rocked Mumbai were a 'coordinated attack by terrorists', Home Minister Chidambaram said. 'The blasts took place between 6.45 p.m. and 7 p.m. and therefore we infer from this that this was a coordinated attack by terrorists,' the home minister said.

10:15 pm: Ministry of home affairs have confirmed that 20 have been killed and 113 injured in the blast.

10:10 pm: Following are some major militant attacks on India in recent years.

March 7, 2006: At least 15 people are killed and 60 wounded in three blasts in Varanasi.

July 11, 2006: More than 180 people are killed in seven bomb explosions at railway stations and on trains in Mumbai. Islamist militants are blamed.

Sept. 8, 2006: At least 32 people are killed in a series of explosions, including one near a mosque, in Malegaon town, 260 km (160 miles) northeast of Mumbai.

Feb. 19, 2007: Two bombs explode aboard a train heading from India to Pakistan; at least 66 passengers, most of them Pakistanis, burn to death. Timeline

9:55 pm: President Patil wished speedy recovery for those injured in the blasts.

9:45 pm: Video: Blast at Zaveri Bazaar

9:35 pm: Home Minister Chidambaram to reach Mumbai Thursday

9:30 pm: Manmohan Singh had a telephonic conversation with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan following the three blasts that rocked Mumbai. Manmohan Singh has asked Chavan to keep him posted about the various developments taking place after the blasts.

9:23 pm: Advisory: the Mumbai Taxi Workers Union has confirmed that all cabs will go off the roads at midnight.

9:17 pm: NIA teams asked to join investigations in Mumbai blasts

9:13 pm: Maharashtra CM says that police have confirmed that 17 have been killed and 81 injured in the blasts.

9:10 pm: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani have in official reactions condemned the blasts in Mumbai, expressed their sympathy for and solidarity with the Indian leadership and people, and condoled the victims.

9:07 pm: Home Ministry officials say that India had no advance intelligence indicating the possibility of such attacks.

9:03 pm: One CSFL team from Delhi and one from Hyderabad being rushed to Mumbai: Chidambaram

9:00 pm: Chidambaram says 10 people killed and 54 injured in the blasts

8:55 pm: In a brief statement to the press, Home Minister P Chidambaram said he was in constant touch with the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chauhan, and said he would update the media on the situation and developments every two hours. The next update is due at 11 PM IST.

8:50 pm: Chidambaram appeals to people of Mumbai to remain calm and maintain peace.

8:47 pm: No incident of communal disharmony reported in the city after blasts: Milind Deora

8:45 pm: A vehicle with registration number MH-43 A 9384 was found damaged at the Dadar blast site. The police are enquiring about its details.

8:42 pm: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chauhan has confirmed 13 dead in the blasts, and over 100 injured to various degrees of severity.

8:40 pm: Even as a BSF plane with NIA officials, forensics experts and anti-terrorist personnel are en route to Mumbai, Home Minister P Chidambaram has taken the chair at an emergency Cabinet meeting.

8:37 pm: All injured taken to KEM and JJ hospital

8:36 pm: Opera House blast took place in Prasad Chambers, Panchratna lane which houses diamond traders

8:35 pm: Indian Mujahideen suspected for attacks: NDTV reports

8:34 pm: The blasts occured at 6.30, 6.45 and 7 pm in sequence

8:33 pm: Police control room nos: 22621855, 1983, 5020

8:30 pm: Top security and home ministry officials meet to assess situation

8:29 pm: Opera House blast took place in Panchratna lane

8:28 pm: Police have cordoned off the area. People are stranded in Dadar as the police are not allowing them to leave the place. It's raining and people are struck

8:28 pm: Dadar blast took place at bus stop near Kabhuthar Khaana

8:26 pm: Home Secretary RK Singh confirms that one blast took place in a Maruti Esteem

8:25 pm: Home Secretary RK Singh says all injured have been shifted to hospital

8:22 pm: Home secretary RK Singh says 2 killed and 100 people have been injured in the blast.

8:20 pm: Domestic and International airports in Mumbai reportedly sealed. CISF screening airport parking lots

8:17 pm: Home Minister Chidambaram to brief the media at 9:00 pm on the Mumbai blasts

8:14 pm: BSF forensic experts being readied to fly to Mumbai

8:12 pm: PM speaks to Maharastra CM on blasts; asks him to keep him posted

8:10 pm: Maharashtra Home Secretary claims 60 have been injured

8:07 pm: Local trains in Mumbai are still functional

8:05 pm: Police sources say improvised explosive devices used in the blasts

8:03 pm: IED used in blast: TV reports

8:02 pm: If you or your loved ones are injured in the Mumbai blasts, please call 022 6133 6133 - MeraDoctor lines are open for all

8:01 pm: Kabhuthar Khaana area in Dadar cordoned off

8:00 pm: It seems to be a terror attack: Home ministry

7:58 pm: TV reports say that 8 people have been killed and more than 70 injured

7:55 pm: Dader blast victims taken to Kem hospital; Zaveri Bazaar blast victims taken to JJ hospital

7:54 pm: Zaveri Bazaar blast took place in a meter box of an electric pole

7:53 pm: Home Ministry puts NSG team on standby

7:52 pm: Teams of Maharashtra ATS rushed to the blast site

7:50 pm: One explosion was in a car in Dadar

7:50 pm: Cellular networks jammed across Mumbai

7:47 pm: Home Ministry confirms blasts are an act of Terrorism

7:45 pm: Security alert in Delhi after Mumbai blasts

7:43 pm: Chhagan Bhujpal refuses to give confirmation on mumber of injured

7:40 pm: Home ministry confirms blasts in Mumbai

7:35 pm: Probing a tiffin box found near the blast site: ACP

7:32 pm: 7:30 pm - Early reports indicate casualties in Zaveri Bazaar blast.

7:30 pm: Fire under control in Zaveri Bazaar, says eye witness.

7:25 pm: Eyewitnesses report hearing explosion sound near Kabuthar Khaana in Dadar. It is located next to Dadar Station.

7:20 pm: Home Ministry refuses to confirm that they are bomb blasts

7:15 pm: Three blasts reported from different parts of Mumbai - Dadar, Prasad Chambers in Opera House and Zaveri Bazaar.

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