On This Day in History: July 11, 2006 – Series of bomb blasts in Mumbai local trains killed 147 and injured 439

On this day, July 11, in the year 2006, a series of bomb blasts in local trains led to death of 147 people. The gruesome incident involved seven synchronised blasts and also injured 439 people.  The blasts, which took place between 6 pm to 6:30 pm, also brought the lifeline of Mumbai i.e. local trains to halt. Coincidently, the blasts were preceded by five grenade attacks in Srinagar earlier in the day, which killed eight people, however, then Home Secretary V K Duggal said there was no link between Srinagar and Mumbai bomb blasts.

The blasts targeted Western Railway network of Mumbai. The blasts took place near the vicinity of Matunga Road, Mahim, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar and Borivali railway stations. The bombs were set off in a pressure cooker and were planted in the first class compartments of trains. The blasts were so powerful that roofs of some railways stations were broken to pieces.

As the blasts took place, commuters were thrown off from the train compartments. A scene of chaos occurred as mangled bodies of commuters were lying on the railway tracks and the injured were bleeding heavily. The fellow passengers took part in the rescue efforts and helped the injured to send them to the local hospitals.