Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Up to 13 people were killed and over 100 injured in three deafening bombs hit three crowded areas in Mumbai in a few minutes every other night, Wednesday, the first terrorist attack on India's financial capital after 2008.
The first explosion occurred just before 7:00 p.m. to space opera in south Mumbai. In 10 minutes, in a coordinated operation clearly two other explosions occurred - at Zaveri Bazaar and Dadar West, within a radius of six kilometers.
The three areas were filled with motorists and pedestrians at home after work when the stillness of the night was broken.
Bombs were hidden in different places - in a parked Dadar West, not far from the headquarters of Shiv Sena, and an umbrella at Zaveri Bazaar.
People were flying shrapnel from the explosive devices used in the attacks, police and Interior Ministry officials in Mumbai and New Delhi said. Some died instantly. Some lost limbs.
Residents of Mumbai detailed how, when relative calm was restored, people came to the rescue of one another, rushing to the wounded and dying from the nearest hospital.
Minister Prithviraj Chavan Maharashtra chief put the death toll at 13 and 87 were injured. In New Delhi, the Minister of Interior, P. Chidambaram said at least 10 people died and 54 were hospitalized.
"The death toll could be higher the death toll could rise," he said, adding quickly that Mumbai - the financial capital of cinema in India - was on high alert.
"This was a coordinated attack by terrorists," said Chidambaram.
It is the first terror attack in Mumbai after Pakistani terrorists ravaged the city in November 2008, leaving 166 Indians and foreigners dead.
Although panic gripped Mumbai as news of the blasts spread like wildfire, the situation appeared to settle down within about two hours as a large number of policemen were deployed.
Police Commissioner Aroop Patnaik had earlier said that 10-15 people had been killed.
In New Delhi, Home Secretary R.K. Singh put the number of injured at more than 100.
The most powerful blast took place in the Opera House area, causing widespread destruction.
"There was a big noise," a member of the Mumbai Diamond Merchants Association said. He said he saw 30-35 people sprawled on the ground, some crying in pain. Two or three had their legs blown off.
The Opera House is near the Charni Road railway station.
At Dadar, the explosion took place in a parked car near a bus stop at the crowded Kabutarkhana area, barely 500 meters from another railway station.
In Zaveri Bazar, a jewellery hub, the Khau Gully -- famous for its snacks -- was hit. The bomb had been concealed in an umbrella, the chief minister said.
In no time, panic set in. One witness said he thought there had been "some shooting". But he said he soon realized that a bomb had gone off.
Police fanned out all over the city, preparing for the worst. They had a tough time controlling the crowds in the three places.
Leaders in New Delhi and Mumbai appealed for peace.
Chidambaram asked the people of Mumbai to "remain clam and maintain peace". Minister of State for Communications and IT Milind Deora, an MP from Mumbai, also appealed for calm.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had a quick talk with the Maharashtra chief minister.
Chidambaram said the National Security Guards (NSG) in Mumbai was on standby while two teams of forensic experts were flying from Hyderabad and New Delhi to the city.
