The Hindu : Mumbai maintains its cool

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 15, 2003

National

National

Mumbai maintains its cool

By Arunkumar Bhatt

A sniffer dog being used to search for explosives at a taxi stand near the New Delhi railway station on Friday. — Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

MUMBAI March 14. An angry and anguished Mumbai once again showed its resilience today, refusing to panic after Thursday night's bomb blast in a suburban train at Mulund station that has claimed 12 lives.

The station witnessed chaotic scenes after the blast but many people came forward to help the injured.

Mumbai and its suburbs, having a population of about 1.25 crore people remained calm today and people went about with their normal life. Police were deployed in strength in sensitive areas in view of Moharram. Miscreants tried to spread rumours of explosions here and there but in vain.

An unclaimed bag was found in a city bus at Powai, near the IIT. The passengers were made to alight and no vehicle was allowed to pass by the area. A sniffer dog of the bomb detection squad became suspicious of the bag but on examination it was found to contain an electric drill.

The Maharastra Chief Minister, Sushil Kumar Shinde, went to the Central Railway's car shed at Kalva, near Thane, and inspected the bogie damaged in the blast. He told reporters later that forensic experts were of the view that the explosive device was made of ammonium nitrate.

The explosives created a powerful impact and the shock waves travelled at the speed of 13 km a second. He said the injured had told him that they did not know what happened after the blast showing and its incapacitating effect.

Police had some clues and he hoped that they would be able to arrest the terrorists involved. Asked if any known terrorist organisation was involved, he said that nothing could be ruled out.

Mr. Shinde said that of the four blasts that rocked Mumbai in the past two months or so, the Mulund and Ghatkopar blasts were similar in nature. The disaster management committee had discussed precautionary and preventive measures.

The committee had representatives of the civil, police, military and intelligence organisations.

Mr. Shinde complimented the people of Mumbai for showing fortitude and understanding and said he was moved by the sight of people going about their normal activities.

The Deputy Chief Minister, Chhagan Bhujbal, denounced attempts by several BJP legislators and workers to demonstrate at his residence, demanding his resignation. "This is the time to be united and face the challenge of terrorism," he said, reminding the BJP that nobody had demonstrated in New Delhi or demanded L.K. Advani's resignation after the attack on Parliament or such incidents.

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