Pics by Rons Bantwal
Mumbai, July 13 (IANS) Terror strikes and rains hit traffic movement on major roads in south Mumbai as cars, autorickshaws and taxis moved at snail's pace after the three serial blasts that killed at least 20 people and injured over 100 others in the evening, said local residents.
Torrential rains added to the chaos after the explosions, with commuters spending hours on roads to cover even short distances.
"I was stuck in traffic jam for more than two hours near Khar West. Cars were literally crawling and the rain was making the matters worse. Since everyone was rushing home, there were major traffic jams in every part of the city," Shruti Arora, who works with a multinational company, told IANS.
Three serial blasts rocked Zaveri Bazar, Dadar and Opera House around 7 p.m.
Although autorickshaws, taxis and trains were plying as usual despite the terror strike, traffic jam on roads created a problem for people trying to return home after work.
Mihir Desai, 19, decided to walk back home after the traffic didn't move for hours.
"I was at a mall in Andheri West when my friend called me and told me about the blasts. I stay close to the blast site, so I decided to take an autorickshaw and go home. But it was useless as I got stuck in the jam and finally decided to walk home as my parents were panicking," said Mihir.
"We are mainly taking passengers who are not staying in far flung areas but still it is taking us hours to cover a few kilometres," complained autorickshaw driver Ramesh.
Local trains, known as the lifeline of the city, continued to run on time.
"I thought local train service will be disrupted after the blasts, but when I reached Dadar station, I was pleasantly surprised to see trains running on time and these were not very crowded," said Sonia who works with a public relations firm.
"But one could see the tension and fear on the commuters faces. Most of them were frantically trying to call or SMS their families and friends," she added.
"First, it had been raining really hard and then the blasts - the city is in a mess right now," said Dev Verma, another commuter.
Pain, anger in virtual world over Mumbai blasts
New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) From anger to astonishment to despondency -- the virtual world was Thursday flooded with messages reflecting the pain and anguish of the netizens as soon as the news broke about the serial blasts in Mumbai that have claimed at least 20 lives and injured 113.
For many, the blasts revived the memories of the 26/11 attacks while many vent their anger on what they say has become a way of life.
"Let's stop turning the other cheek each time someone slaps us. Whack someone back! Hard! Our restraint is not our weakness! Enough is Enough," said a message on micro-blogging website Twitter.
"three serial blasts in Mumbai....but who cares they are now part of Indian life," Anil Saxena wrote.
"3 more blasts in Mumbai!! What the f*** is wrong with our government?! Is the Indian life so fucking cheap?!" wrote ritikagupta89.
"Mumbai blasts once again! at least 15 people died and about a hundred injured. Is there a hack against such cowardly acts," said another one.
Of the three blasts that rocked the financial capital, one took place in Dadar in central Mumbai and the other two in Zaveri Bazar and the Opera House in south Mumbai. All three are busy commercial and residential areas.
References to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks were on expected lines.
"The wounds of 26/11 have not yet heeled and we again have serial blasts in Mumbai," Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj wrote.
Author Chetan Bhagat wrote: "Mixture of emotions. sadness for ppl affected. anger that it keeps happening. anxiety. need to stay calm."
Then there were some ridiculing of the term 'Mumbai spirit' that finds mention after every terror attack in the financial capital.
"Dear Mumbai, please stop being calm and carrying on. please stop your spirit," said a tweet.
"It seems people have resigned to acts of terror just as they have resigned to chaos during heavy rains. It's not spirit, it's stupor," wrote Amrit Hallan on micro-blogging site Twitter.
"The fact that 'Dear Netflix' is trending above the Mumbai blasts really speaks of everything that's wrong with the world and our priorities.
But there were many sending out messages of hope.
"Woke up (in Toronto) to the shocking news of blasts in Bombay:( Deepest condolences to the families of victims," actress Gul Panag wrote.
"now is not the time to lash out at imagined perpetrators. terror tht begets irrational anger's successful terror. stick together, stay sane," actor Rahul Bose wrote.
"Mumbai get back normal soon," TheoryOfParadox wrote.
Nabila Jamshed wrote: "Peace, Strength & Security to Mumbai."