The sound of money

What do Sunidhi Chauhan, Shreya Ghoshal and Kelly Clarkson have in common apart from their singing prowess, fame and the ability to attract paparazzi at the drop of a hat? They are all products of famous singing reality shows.

Every year dreams of several talented aspirants are fulfiled with one reality show after the other enabling them an opportune platform. Today, with numerous TV channels and radio stations making their foray into the main stream, music has become a lucrative job prospect.

Not just that, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers the music industry, which is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 28 per cent from 2010 to 2014, will reach US$ 567.6 million in 2014 paving way for many prodigies to grab a seat. The music industry in India has always been dominated by film music, which contributes to 15 per cent of a film's earning. Shankar Mahadevan, singer, says, "Career as a singer is flourishing and media is opening new avenues-through reality shows-for the talented."

Even though such a creative career drives on passion and talent, it is also important for aspirants to back themselves with a degree in music or creative arts. Interested students can pursue a degree course in music. For instance, Delhi University's Department of Music offers a bachelor's programme in music. Formal programmes are usually diplomas or bachelor of music courses after class X and XII (10+2).

This can be followed by a master's degree. While a bachelor's degree in music is the right qualification for formal positions of music teachers in schools and other educational institutions, master's degree is useful for teaching and training options at the college level.

The school of music in India may be Hindustani or Carnatic. Although remuneration comes with experience, once established, aspirants can rake in the moolah of fame and money. Mahadevan says, "Over time, people will notice what you are doing. Then you'll be in demand, and when you are in demand, you'll make money." The field offers job opportunities for not just singers but music composers, sound engineers and technicians also. They can start with Rs 10,000 per month and go up to Rs 1 lakh per month.

The Demon Fast (Indian) Bowler

Richard Hadlee had four keywords to good fast bowling: rhythm, off-stump, desire and Lillee. The first three are self-explanatory.

As for the fourth, Hadlee said he would think of Dennis Lillee whenever things got tough. “What would Lillee do in this situation? And he would never ever give up,” he explained.

Ishant Sharma’s bowling in the Test series in the Caribbean ticks most points on Hadlee’s list. The results are Hadlee-esque, too.

In the West Indies, we saw an Ishant we haven’t seen in a long time. It was a synergy between an uncluttered mind, tireless legs, cocked wrist, fingers wrapping the seam, unruly hair in the wind, and the cricket ball.

They fused into one efficient machine whose singular objective was to zone in on a spot outside the off-stump. The ball would land on the spot, rear up and ask the batsman an unkind question: are you good enough to handle me?

The answer to that lies in Ishant's numbers for the series. His 22 wickets, one every 34 balls, are the most any Indian pace bowler has taken in a three-Test series.

Excluding Irfan Pathan’s windfall against a B-grade Zimbabwe, this is the only time an Indian pacer has had such a rich haul since Kapil Dev against West Indies in the 1983 home series (See table).

The credentials of West Indies’ current side were less than ideal, but not so Ishant’s methods.

Ishant bowled fewer no-balls. He was difficult to score off. An ironed-out, smooth run-up preceded a well-coordinated jump into the bowling stride. One, which looked like it was meant to generate hostile pace and bounce. Spell after spell, tirelessly.

Rhythm. Off-stump. Desire.

It's something you can't attribute to many Indian pacers, especially when they bowl overseas.

It turns out his Lillee was Zaheer. Thankfully, he realised aping Zaheer will not work for him.

It's his stint alongside Dale Steyn at Deccan Chargers that has triggered a turnaround after being left out of the World Cup squad. An astonishing fiver against Kochi showed us for the first time that Ishant can run through a side. It was the in-cutter that caused problems for batsmen on that day.

Deccan coach Darren Lehmann said, "If he is not in the Indian team, then I am a poor selector. He's been unbelievable this year."

Interestingly, it was during the first IPL when Ishant showed first signs of losing the edge he had in Australia, particularly in that tireless spell at the end of which he got Ricky Ponting in Perth.

Things have come a full circle. After a long time, Ishant has a bagful of wickets to show he's a strike bowler not just on paper. The XXXL-sized, serious-looking, big-nosed, bearded, long-haired, demon fast bowler from India. One, who can also look the part. Watch out, England.

Live right, stop cancers

It Is a matter of concern to see a steady rise in cancers among women in recent years. It is unfortunate that women in their 30s, who do not have any family history, are suffering from cancers unlike in the old days when cancer was considered an age-related ailment. Clearly, urban living is taking its toll. 

Simple preventive actions can reduce some of these risk factors.

Environment 
Pollution is known to be one of the contributors for cancer, for example, pesticides in farming.

Stay safe: Choose a relatively clean area to live in. Limit exposure to pollution by using non-polluting modes of transport like the underground. Find out the source of your produce, poultry and fish. Organic food is a good option.

Diet 
A fat-rich diet can be a contributor to cancer. The younger generation swaps green leafy vegetables, dietary fibre and whole foods for fast, packaged, heat-and-eat food which contain additivies and preservatives (carcinogens).

Stay safe: Eat home-cooked food with plenty of fibre (35 g/day) and whole foods. Green leafy vegetables, pulses and oats are a good source of fibre. Avoid refined sugar, flour, white bread, pasta, fries and other fatty foods.

Lifestyle 
Tobacco is a major contributor to head and neck cancers. It can affect other organs as well. Smoking is a major cause of cancers. Passive smoking is known to expose women to non-small cell lung cancers. Avoiding breastfeeding is counter-productive as is the use of unhygienic sanitary napkins (exposure to infection and cervical cancers). Certain oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) and hormone replacement therapies (HRTs) can make patients vulnerable to cancer (although recent studies have actually proved the opposite). Delayed age of conception and obesity are also considered risk factors.

Stay safe: Stop smoking, plan your family early and make it a point to breastfeed your baby. Consult your gynaecologist before considering OCP and HRT. Make sure you exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.

My top tip

Move to clean, organic food; adopt a healthy lifestyle and schedule an annual check-up especially if you are above 40. You pay more upfront, but the costs are lower in the long term.

After Nano, Tata launches millionaire's car in Nepal

Kathmandu, July 14 (IANS) Within three weeks of launching in Nepal 'people's car' Nano, the least expensive car in the world, the Tata Group is now seeking to consolidate business in the Himalayan republic by unveiling its millionaire's car, the Tata Aria.

Sipradi Trading, the sole dealer of Tata vehicles in Nepal, this week began marketing the luxury car in its three versions, the Aria Pleasure, Aria Prestige and Aria Pride.

Unlike the Nano that cost under NRS.5 lakh in Nepal during the introductory offer and could be booked with a down payment of only NRS.10,000 - less than Rs.7,000 - the Aria is intended for the other end of the consumer spectrum.

The lowest price is NRS.47.9 lakh while in India the same model would cost about NRS.24 lakh.

The sizeable difference in prices in Nepal and India is due to the whopping 240 percent taxes imposed by Nepal, including customs duty, VAT and other taxes.

Is Mumbai a soft target for terrorists?

Why Mumbai?

When serial blasts ripped the heart of the city in 1993, it gutted the collective psyche of a city, and a nation forever. Ever since Mumbai has been the favorite hunting ground to unleash terror with over 700 people having been killed so far.

But why Mumbai and not Delhi, India’s capital, or Ahmedabad, which witnessed gruesome riots, and why not Bangalore, after all it commands global attention.

Here’s perhaps why…

Mumbai offers anonymity

India’s most populous city cloaks most of the 20.5 million people in anonymity; migrants are plenty, allowing anyone can slip in and out unnoticed. This makes it easier for terror outfits to operate, undetected, for long periods of time surfacing only to execute their strategy. They can go under the radar and vanish like a ghost. With a population density of 20,482 persons per square kilometer, it is one of the densest regions in the world.

Former state chief secretary D M Sukhtankar pointed out that Mumbai's vastness is also its weakness: "Terrorists want to demonstrate that despite efforts to prevent such incidents they can still strike at will. Mumbai offers anonymity. It is difficult to identify someone next to you."

Carries an uneasy burden

Mumbai carries in its collective conscience the guilt and heaviness that comes from a heinous crime where the perpetrators have gone unpunished. In the 1992 riots, post the Babri Masjid demolition, more than 900 people were killed, mostly Muslim, justice has not been dealt as yet.

Singh, thinks that this lack of resolution could be one of the causes. "It has not come to a closure because the prime instigators still elude the authorities. Their role was visible in subsequent attacks," he added.

The 700-page, 1998 Srikrishna report, on Mumbai riots has been ignored by successive governments, the politicians and policemen involved in the rioting remain scot-free. But at the same time, prosecution of those involved in the 1993 bombings has been swift leading to speculation that the government is anti-Muslim.

India’s financial, commercial and celluloid capital

The most often cited reason is that Mumbai is the financial and commercial center of India and wreaking havoc here will generate frenetic media attention and weaken the India story.

Former state chief secretary D M Sukhtankar corroborates this: "The high population density, and its intense business and economic activity, make it an easy target for those who want to create worldwide panic," he said.

"The city has been attacked every three years since 2003. Mumbai has a strong network of Indian Mujahideen and SIMI. While the police upgraded its infrastructure and equipment after 26/11 attack, the real focus should be on how to curb radicalization of youth from the minority community," he said.

Soft target

The Home Minister, P Chidambaram claimed that there was no intelligence failure, but there was a lack of intelligence- a crucial problem when it comes to tackling terror. In spite of making huge investments and creating a new agency to tackle terror, a severe incompetence in gathering credible intelligence makes most of our cities a vulnerable to attacks with Mumbai bearing the brunt.

“Even though both State and Central governments have been scrambling to set up all kinds of special counter-terrorism forces,” says Dr. Ajai Sahni, Director of the Institute for Conflict Management in New Delhi, “there has been no real effort to improve intelligence-gathering and investigations capabilities from the bottom-up.”

“No computer,” he points out, “is going to help you solve a case if you've got no worthwhile data to feed into it”.

To paraphrase CD Sahay, former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief “From our side, we have made very tall claims that we’ve taken many measures to beef up security after 26/11 but the country is totally unprepared to detect and neutralize terrorists and terror attacks. We have been the target for terrorists for two and a half decades now, but we do not have structures in place to actually stop these sorts of attacks.”

Already home to terror outfits and gangs

Mumbai’s sordid underbelly is a breeding ground for gangs and also home to numerous terror groups. The state government or the centre has been unable to crack down effectively and weed out these rogue elements. Until there is a strategy to clip their wings, the message that gets sent out is that Mumbai is a safe city to operate out of.

Sahay makes a valid point when he says: “The terrorists who have done this did not cross the border the day before yesterday surely. We have terrorist cells in our country, deep down, that get activated when the time comes.”

It's not just the terror outfits that are a cause for concern, “The Mumbai police should have an impact on the criminal underbelly of the city. That is very important,” says MN Singh, former Mumbai police commissioner. Recently one of the city’s leading crime reporters Jyotirmoy Dey was recently gunned down. Nobody knows the reason, but police are speculating that Rajendra “Chhota Rajan” Nikhalje, the East Asia-based gangster was behind the killing.

Since the reasons for the crimes are not simple and are a multi-layered, multi-headed hydra that won’t be easy to put down it will be a long time before the city that never sleeps slips into a fitful slumber.

Exploring Nubra Valley in Ladakh

My fellow travelers had warned me enough about Khardung La. They told me stories about the heights, the headaches, the dizziness and the dry toilets. Even Dorjee, my cab driver and guide cautioned me. ”Just 20 mins ok,” he said, as we reached the summit of the pass at 17580 feet. But no one prepared me for the carnival that I saw out there.

Khardung La was a tourist’s hangout. The small patch of land out there was teeming with people from all over the world, who were just simply hanging around sipping chai, taking in the landscape and having a conversation with the local army men. Some adventurous lot were seen climbing higher vistas.

It was bright and sunny with patches of snow covering the dry mountains, but the wind blew us away.  The shutter bugs were around, clicking photographs of themselves against screaming milestones that announced their presence at the pass. An American tourist gushed with excitement as she requested me to take her picture against the “You have reached Khardung La.” board along with her teddy bear in tow. Another lone German lady exchanged notes on her trip so far.

Embrace the spellbounding beauty of Ladakh.

I looked down to see the serpentine roads carrying a beeline line of bikers trudging uphill. Dorjee’s warning rang aloud in my head, as the crowds eventually got to me. I had other pressing matters to attend, like finding a dry toilet. My destination, I was told was another six hours away. 

It is probably a cliché to use the word breathless when you are referring to Ladakh. But it is not everyday that you drive up the towering mountains beyond 17000 feet, amidst stunning landscape and then plunge down to 10000 feet to rest in a picturesque valley.” The starkness of the landscape became more pronounced as we drove down one of the ancient trading routes. However as we plunged downhill, the landscape changed dramatically. We looked around and saw the Karakoram range around us, the Siachen glacier in the distance and the river Shyok flowing beside us with itswhite sands. Some desert flowers carpeted the dry slopes of mountains adding a dash of colour. 

Our destination was at the confluence of the Shyok or the Nubra or Siachen rivers, an oasis in this cold desert called Nubra valley, filled with apple and apricot orchards Dorjee called it Ldumra or his valley of flowers. The altitude dropped suddenly and we were amidst sand dunes.  Bactrian camels made a surreal appearance here against the setting sun, as we stopped by to take in the moment. Some tourists hopped on to the camels for rides as we sat on the dunes and soaked in the moment.

We drove to little towns and visited many monasteries and lazed around in many orchards, treating ourselves to delicious apricots .Our journey took us to Diskit where a 14th century monastery awaited us with a story of a demon. 

Dorjee played the guide to the hilt.  Most monasteries, he explained were either founded by the Drug-pa or the red hats or the Gelug-pa or the yellow hats. Diskit monastery he added was founded by Changzem Tserab Zangpo, a disciple of Tsong Khapa, founder of Gelug-pa order. We climbed up the stairs, a bit breathless and saw a statue of the mighty Maitreya , the future Buddha,  some fierce guardian deities and a wonderful fresco of the Tashilhunpo Gompa of Tibet. A huge drum caught our attention. Dorjee explained that the monastery celebrated the Festival of the Scapegoat or Desmochhey with a mask dance that depicted the victory of good over evil. He then narrated the story of a demon who haunted this Gompa even after he was killed. Locals believe that the Gonkhang or the temple of the guardians still housed his wrinkled head and arm. 

I shivered a bit, more out of the cold and headed to Hundar, a charming hamlet by the river side with mani walls and chortens scattered all around the hills. They looked lost in the hills as small rivulets flowed through the village.  I followed the streams and saw more chortens and gompas surrounded by trees. The capital of the ancient Nubra kingdom, Hundar housed the Chamba Gompa and is probably one of the last few Indian villages before the Pakistan border..A bridge separated locals from tourists as the army allowed access only to the locals to proceed beyond Hundar.  I walked up to a prayer wheel, probably the last in the Indian border and wished for peace. Given a chance I would probably settle here forever.

Search engines are killing our memory

New York, July 15 (ANI): Researchers have found that the widespread use of search engines and online databases is affecting the way people remember information.

To know whether people were more likely to remember information that could be easily retrieved from a computer, Betsy Sparrow, an assistant professor of psychology at Columbia and her collaborators, Daniel M. Wegner of Harvard and Jenny Liu of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, staged different memory experiments, reports the New York Times.

In one experiment where participants typed 40 bits of trivia, the team found that the subjects were significantly more likely to remember information if they thought they would not be able to find it later.

"Participants did not make the effort to remember when they thought they could later look up the trivia statement they had read," wrote the authors.

A second experiment was aimed at determining whether computer accessibility affects precisely what we remember.

"If asked the question whether there are any countries with only one colour in their flag, for example," the researchers wrote, "do we think about flags - or immediately think to go online to find out?"

In this case, participants were asked to remember both the trivia statement itself and which of five computer folders it was saved in. The researchers were surprised to find that people seemed better able to recall the folder.

"That kind of blew my mind," Dr. Sparrow said.

The experiment explores an aspect of what is known as transactive memory - the notion that we rely on our family, friends and co-workers as well as reference material to store information for us.

The Internet's effects on memory are still largely unexplored, Dr. Sparrow said, adding that her experiments had led her to conclude that the Internet has become our primary external storage system.

"Human memory," she said, "is adapting to new communications technology." (ANI)

Seven new BlackBerries to be unveiled soon

Toronto, July 13 (IANS) Warding off investors' anger at their annual meeting at Waterloo near here Tuesday, BlackBerry co-CEOs announced that seven new smart phones running a new operating system will hit the market soon.

Declining market share, shrinking revenue, profit warnings and delays in replacing the aging handsets have triggered investor anger at the two co-CEOs Jim Balsillie and Mike Lazaridis who control management as well as board at the BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM).

Calls for making board independent of management have grown shriller as RIM stock has sunk more than 50 percent this year - hovering at about $27 now.

Admitting that RIM faced 'some challenges,' the co-CEOs managed to control investor anger Tuesday, with Lazaridis announcing that seven new BlackBerry smart phones running a new operating system will be unveiled in the coming months.

The release of the seven smart phones, including the new BlackBerry Bold, will again catapult the wireless giant into the lead role, he said.

'It (the new Bold) may have delayed us, but we are going to come out ahead,'' said Lazaridis who started RIM in the 1980s. Warming the hearts of investors, Jim Balsillie added, 'Mike and I, along with the executive team, are closely managing this transition and have positioned the company for continued future success.''

The new line-up of BlackBerry smart phones will be run by RIM's powerful new operating system used in its PlayBook tablet.

Responding to the prevailing rumours of RIM's takeover by Apple or Microsoft, Balsillie said a rights plan would be put in place in the 'blink of an eye'' if a hostile takeover bid was mounted against the company.

Assuring investors, he said, 'If there is anything that will make you sleep better at night that I can do, I will do it.' There have been rumours that cash-rich Apple or Microsoft could buy out RIM whose net worth is now just $14 billion.

BlackBerry has sunk from top to the third place in the US smart phone since October under onslaught from Apple's iPhone and Google Android devices.

Indian-origin girls bag science honour

An Indian- origin girl has developed a solution to the resistance of ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapy, bagging a grand prize at the first ever Google science fair.

A total of 15 students were selected for the final round and three girls were announced victorious as the search giant said it was ‘all about girl power’. Two of the three are Indians based in the US. Shree Bose, a high school student, won the grand prize of $ 50,000 ( Rs 22 lakh) scholarship and a trip to the Galápagos Islands with a National Geographic explorer as well as an internship at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

She researched on ways to improve treatment of ovarian cancer after the cancerous cells develop certain resistance to chemotherapy. Through her study, she concluded that AMP kinase, an energy protein of cells, plays a role in the development of resistance. Bose completed her research under Dr. Alakanada Basu, University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas.

Another winner Naomi Shah in the age group of 15 to 16 years devised a model to show that improvement of indoor environment can reduce people’s dependence on asthma medications.

The third winner — Lauren Hodge in the age group 13- 14 — studied the effects of different marinades on the level of potentially harmful carcinogens in grilled chicken.

Fast ideas - what's your fav corn recipe?

1. Dress up your corn

This isn't a recipe, it's just what I whip up in jiffy to give my regular corn on the cob a fresh, tangy twist. Take lime juice and honey, mix them well. Spread the mix on the corn and sprinkle with red chilli flakes. You can also use this mixture as dressing for your sweet corn.
-Shiralie Chaturvedi, Prevention trainee

2. Corn spinach

Chop spinach and onions, grate some garlic too. Boil some corn kernels and keep aside. Heat someolive oil in a non-stick pan, put in the onion, saute until pink. Next add the garlic and spinach. Mix in the corn kernels and season according to choice and taste. Cook for five minutes. Serve as side dish or use as sandwich filling.
-Prerna Singh, Prevention fan

3. Corn pulao

This is very easy to prepare and tastes great! First half-cook the rice and leave it to cool. Steam some sweet corn. Heat some olive oil in a pan, add cumin seeds, diced onions and salt (to taste). Add the rice and corn to the pan. Cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Garnish with finely choppedcoriander leaves and a little garam masala.
-Aparna Mehta on Facebook

4. Sandwiched corn

Wash sweet corns and steam them. Add chaat masala, chilli powder, finely chopped onion, chopped tomatoes, salt and coriander leaves. Mix everything together. Spoon the mixture between slices of wholewheat bread and toast in a sandwich toaster. Serve with coriander or mint chutney. Works great as an evening snack with a hot cup of milk or coffee.

World media report Mumbai’s despair

Newspapers across the world responded to Wednesday's blasts in Mumbai with live blogs and special reports.

The Globe and Mail said Indians were angry with Pakistani Islamists for the attack, but the Wall Street Journal reported that the general mood was against the Indian government, and not so much against Pakistan: "Rich and poor alike saw the ease and frequency with which terrorists seem to mount attacks in the country as another example of India's rickety public services and lack of effective governance."

Zaveri Bazar, WSJ pointed out, had been a terror target two times already, and the government had not been able to prevent the third attack on Wednesday.

The Washington Post put out a slide show. The Guardian started a live blog to cover the blasts. Hundreds of readers posted their reactions on The New York Times blog. One reader who identified himself as Sen defended the government's refusal to go after Pakistan: "To those who keep harping on India not being able to defend itself, or not able to retaliate or not able to teach a lesson to Pakistan; PLEASE UNDERSTAND that that is EXACTLY what the terrorists, and those who back and train them, wish to see. A full fledged war between the 2 nations. We cannot and will not play into their hands."

The Economist believes a home-grown outfit, and not a Pakistani one, could be behind the attack. It writes: "That is worrying. Indian intelligence fears that young Muslims in the country are growing more radical. Some may be set on revenge for the pogroms in Gujarat in 2002, in which some 2,000 Muslims died at the hands of Hindu-nationalist mobs, while others are furious over the treatment of Muslims in Kashmir. And there are those who are converted to radicalism while working as migrant labourers in the Gulf."

In the Indian papers, the anti-government sentiment was evident, although the Mumbai administration did win some praise for its quick response. The Hindustan Times said the government had ignored intelligence inputs that the Indian Mujahideen would strike.

Anant Rangachari addresses Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in this letter published in First Post: "Sometime, today or tomorrow, you will say that I am resilient and strong and that you are proud of me. I do not want to be resilient and strong and have no desire for you to be proud of me... I've had enough. I can no longer be resilient and strong. Can you start governing, please? You are the Prime Minister; you need to be resilient and strong."

The Hindu is even more scathing. Praveen Swami, who covers defence for the Chennai-based paper, believes the blasts expose India's lack of preparedness: "In spite of massive investments in investigation and counter-terrorism intelligence capabilities since 26/11, police forces across the country have made little progress in identifying the perpetrators of the five major urban attacks which have taken place since then."

Three blasts in Mumbai; 17 dead, 131 injured

serial blasts struck Mumbai Wednesday 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 jewellery 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.
Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday described Wednesday's three serial explosions Mumbai as unfortunate and warned that every city of India was vulnerable to coordinated attacks by terrorists.

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

Refresh this page for latest updates on Mumbai blasts
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9: 30 pm: Mumbai blasts: PM announces ex-gratia assistance for victims

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has announced ex-gratia assistance of two lakh rupees each to the next of kin of the deceased in Mumbai bomb blasts.

"The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has announced ex-gratia assistance of two lakh rupees each to the next of kin of the deceased in bomb blasts in Mumbai yesterday and the assistance for those seriously injured in the blasts is one lakh rupees," a Prime Minister's Office release said. Read more

8: 30 pm: Lalu, Mulayam criticize Chidambaram for 'no intelligence failure' statement

Leaders of the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and Samajwadi Party (SP) criticized Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram over his statement that there was no intelligence failure on the serial blasts that rocked the financial capital of the country on Wednesday.

"Government does not have alertness there. Apart from investigations, dog squads are being sent, and they are telling the people to bear it. By saying all this it won't work. This should be taken seriously, and something should be done for the families who have lost their dear ones," RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav told mediapersons after a meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. More

8: 00 pm: Premature to name militant outfit behind Mumbai blasts: UK Bansal

A day after serial blasts rocked the financial of the country, UK Bansal, Secretary (Internal Security) in the Home Ministry, on Thursday said it is premature to name any militant outfit behind the Mumbai blasts.

"It cannot be decisively said with confidence that which militant group is behind this incident and that is the reason why we are inquiring about all the militants groups and we are discussing about it, suspecting all the groups," he told media persons. More

7: 30 pm: Rahul Gandhi's statement condones militancy: BJP

Criticizing Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the Mumbai serial blasts, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said his statement abets militants in these blatant acts of violence.

"The statement made by Mr. Rahul Gandhi is most unfortunate. Such uncompassionate statements trying to condone terror is unacceptable and the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) would like to state categorically that such statements would embolden all people indulging in terror, people who have plans against the country," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said. More

6: 30 pm: Mumbai blasts: Raj Thackeray points fingers at migrants

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray blamed the north Indians and migrant population, including illegal Bangaladeshis, in Mumbai for Wednesday's triple blasts which left 17 dead and 131 injured.

'Mumbai, Thane and other parts of the state are teeming with migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and illegal Bangladeshis. Unless the government checks the influx of migrants, such acts of terror will not stop,' he said at a press conference. Full story

6: 00 pm: Government committed to combating terrorism: Rahul Gandhi

Congress General Rahul Gandhi said that it was virtually impossible to stop all terrorist attacks, though every attempt was being made by the government and security agencies to do so.

Gandhi said 99 percent of militant attacks on the country would be prevented, but one percent might still get through.

"We will stop 99 percent of the (militant) attacks. But one percent of attacks might get through and that is what I am saying," he told mediapersons here, a day after the serial blasts in Mumbai.

Gandhi appreciated the initiatives taken by Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in combating militant attacks and described them as 'responses in an organised manner'. More

5: 30 pm: Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Maria pleads people not to give in to rumour mongering or spread rumours and assist in the investigation. He further briefs that :-

- Concentrating on detection of the blasts that took place yesterday evening.
- We are being closely assisted by central agencies.
- Because of rains it will take longer for the forensic experts to give an opinion on the blasts.
- We would like to assure the people that the accused will be brought to book and to have faith and trust in the police.
- We cannot say for sure in just 24 hours what has happened as long as the forensic reports comes in.

5: 00 pm: Mumbai blasts: Govt. must shed its ambivalence towards terrorism, says Advani

Hitting out at the Centre over Wednesday's serial blasts in Mumbai, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Lal Krishna Advani said the government must shed its ambivalence towards terrorism, and added that the repeated attacks on the financial capital of the country is not a failure of intelligence, but a failure of policy.

"The Government of India must shed its ambivalence towards terrorism. Yesterday's act should be of zero tolerance. It should not be condoned. It is not a failure of intelligence; it is a failure of policy," Times Now quoted Advani, as saying during his visit to the hospitals in Mumbai. More
 
4: 30 pm: PM Manmohan Singh to visit Mumbai today

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Mumbai today evening, a day after India's financial and entertainment hub was hit by three serial blasts that killed 17 people and injured 131, an official in his office said.

'The prime minister will be visiting Mumbai today (Thursday),' the official said.

However, the timing of the visit was not revealed for security reasons. But it is likely that Manmohan Singh will take off from the capital after 5 p.m., sources said. More

4: 00 pm: Mumbai blasts an attempt to create tension between India, Pakistan: Farooq Abdullah

Condemning the serial blasts in Mumbai, Union Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah has said that it was an attempt to create tension between India and Pakistan by certain miscreants.

Addressing mediapersons here, Abdullah said: "We should not comment on the incident that has taken place in Mumbai till more details emerge. But one thing is clear the perpetrators of the blasts are those elements who do not wish to see normalcy in relations between India and Pakistan."  Read more

3: 45 pm: Here is the list of the dead and injured at various hospitals in Mumbai. Click here


3: 20 pm: Terror attack failure of policy not intelligence: Advani

The serial blasts in Mumbai were a failure of policy and not just intelligence, veteran BJP leader LK Advani said. He also alleged that Pakistan could be sustaining the Indian Mujahideen, being blamed by some for the triple bombings the day before.

'It is a policy failure not intelligence failure. There have been repeated attacks on Mumbai, this is a failure of policy,' Advani said. Full story

3: 00 pm: Gaps in intelligence needs to be filled: Milind Deora

A day after serial blasts hit Mumbai, South Mumbai MP Milind Deora said gaps in intelligence need to be filled.

'To be very specific, intelligence gathering is still an area where we need to improve upon. We need to understand and give credible inputs,' said Deora, who was appointed minister of state for communication and information technology Tuesday.

He added that even as 99 percent of the attacks were averted, one percent remained where people lost their loved ones. More

2: 30 pm: Twitteratti come to Mumbai blast victims' aid

Updating information about the injured or those missing in the Mumbai blasts and offering help of all kinds, the virtual world platform Twitter is being used to reach out to victims of the Wednesday attack.

A group of people on Twitter, for instance, have put together a detailed datasheet of the people who have been injured in the blasts and the hospitals they have been admitted to.

Open to be updated by others and constantly being done so, there is also a list of those who have gone missing after the triple blasts in the city. More

2: 15 pm: Zero terror tolerance needed: Advani

Senior BJP leader LK Advani reached Mumbai this morning. At a press conference, he said Mumbai has become a favorite terror target and that zero tolerance is needed on terror attacks.

He added that the attacks were a policy failure.
2: 00 pm: No change in Hillary Clinton's India visit: US envoy

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to India will take place as scheduled next week and has not been affected by the blasts in Mumbai, the US envoy A Peter Burleighe said.

Clinton will come here Monday on a three-day visit, during which India and the US will hold their second strategic dialogue at the level of foreign ministers. More

1: 45 pm: Train, flight services normal in Mumbai

But for some delays due to heavy rain, train and flight operations in India's commercial capital were normal Thursday morning, a day after a terror attack that left at least 17 people dead and 131 injured.

Regular crowds were seen on the suburban trains of both the central and western railway, as also the busses operated by the state government-run Bombay Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), which form the backbone of the city's network. More

1: 30 pm: High alert across Indian cities following Mumbai blasts

A security alert was sounded across the country in the wake of serial blasts in Mumbai.

In Delhi, police personnel were deployed at public places like malls, cinema halls, parks, popular hangouts, ISBT and railway station.

In Ayodhya, police personnel carried out random checking of people and vehicles. Security was also tightened in Varanasi, which had seen a powerful bomb blast at the riverside Ghat in December last year. Full story

12: 55 pm: Mumbai limps back to normal after blasts

Life limped back to normal in Mumbai after serial blasts rocked the city. Displaying their stoic resilience against extremism and violence, locals continued with their daily routines.

"The people of Mumbai have proved time and again that we can never be cowed down by such acts of extremism. We will carry on with our daily lives no matter what happens. This is why, students are going to schools, housewives are coming to local shops to buy milk, and life has returned to normal in Mumbai," said Mohan Dutta. More here

12: 40 pm: Owner of car at blast site shaken, but alive

The Maruti Esteem you saw on TV, left damaged by the blast at Dadar yesterday evening, wasn't carrying the bomb, contrary to speculation. Bearing the number MH43A 9384, it was on its way to drop its passengers home: a mason, a painter, and the car's owner and driver, Deepak Patel (37).

Patel, among the fortunate ones who survived, would remember this fateful day for the rest of his life. Full story on NDTV


12: 30 pm: Mumbai 2011: A better response but never enough
On The Wall Street Journal, Prashant Agrawal writes about why Mumbai is the prime target for terrorist attacks and how Mumbaikars have learnt to cope with such attacks. Read the article here

12: 20 pm: 'Post 13/7, Pak terror groups still operating despite international pressure'

Pakistan-connected militant groups still operate despite international pressure after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks almost three years ago, Indian counter-terrorism officials and experts have said.

Testimony at a recent trial in the United States had revealed that officers of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had helped Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) fund and plan the maritime assault, which killed 166 people.

Initial reports indicate that the latest attack involved bombs planted in strategic locations, a recurring tactic used by Indian affiliates of LeT-the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and the Indian Mujahideen.These groups still have the capacity to strike not just in Mumbai, but around the country," The Guardian quoted an Indian counter-terrorism official, as saying. Read more here

12: 00 pm: One more succumbs to injury; official death toll at 19

Rediff.com reports that Lalchand Ahuja, 45, who was admitted to St George's Hospital, has succumbed to his injuries. The latest fatality takes the toll to 19, with 130 injured. 22 remain on the seriously injured list.

11: 30 am: 'LeT hand in Mumbai attack will compel India to again break off talks with Pak'

India will be compelled to again break off recently resumed talks with Pakistan if investigators determine that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) played a crucial role in the planning and implementation of yesterday's Mumbai attacks, said Lisa Curtis, former CIA officer and Senior Research Fellow at Washington's Heritage Foundation.

"The strength of the links of these bombings to the LeT will determine how India responds. If investigators determine that LeT members played a crucial role in the planning and implementation of today's attacks, the Indian leadership will be compelled to again break off recently resumed talks with Islamabad."

"If, on the other hand, investigations show that the IM carried out these bombings largely on its own, there will be less pressure on Indian leaders to immediately withdraw from the Indo-Pakistani dialogue," she added. Full story here

11:00 am: Summary of Chidambaram's Press Conference

Federal Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram, who flew down to Mumbai late last night, at a press conference hosted jointly with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, summed up the ongoing investigations into the serial blasts of Wednesday. The blast at Kabutar Khana in Dadar, he said, was low intensity while the ones at Opera House and Zaveri Bazar ranged from medium to high.

Ammonium nitrate was the explosive used with timer devices, Chidambaram said while confirming 17 deaths and 131 injured, who have been admitted for treatment in 30 hospitals across the city. 26 of the injured have been discharged; another 82 are stable, and 23 are seriously injured. The sites were chosen with an eye on population density, the minister said.

The Home Minister said teams from NIA and NSG are working with the ATS and the Mumbai Crime Branch to run forensics and other investigations on the blast sites; the public will not be allowed in the area, he warned.

Chidambaram said it was too early to identify suspects; all groups are under suspicion and central and state agencies are working in concert to identify the perpetrators. The Home Minister added that there was no advance intelligence about the possibility of an attack. The lack of intelligence, he said later in response to a question, does not indicate a failure of the concerned agencies.

Praising the response of the civilians, the minister asked the media to exercise restraint and to refrain from pointless speculation.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan condoled with the families of those killed and injured, and announced honorariums of Rs 5 lakh to those killed, and Rs 50,000 to the injured.

Without delving deep into possible motives, Chidambaram in response to a question said the blasts could be in revenge for actions taken by the local police in the recent past. The minister also did not rule out the possibility that those opposed to the peace process might target the Indo-Pak talks scheduled for later this month.

Responding to questions, Chidambaram said no arrests have been made thus far. Saying that the government would take full responsibility for the attacks, the minister pointed out that many attacks had been foiled in the past months and years; "this one slipped through," Chidambaram said.

The minister said all three affected areas had CCTV cameras in place. It will take time and resources to expand such surveillance nation-wide, he pointed out. Stating that initial investigations were being carried out by various Indian agencies, he said foreign agencies would be called on to help in case of need.

Referring to the readiness of the police, Chidambaram pointed out that the capacity of the Mumbai police force had been increased "tremendously", and said there are gaps in every police organization in the world, including India. The threat of terror is universal and sustained vigilance is the only answer, he said.

The minister pointed out that the attacks targeted neither foreigners, nor any particular community -- the targeted places had a plurality of communities, he pointed out, adding that Zaveri Bazaar had sustained its third attack because of its commercial importance.

While stating that this was no time to trade political charges, Chidambaram in response to a question said he was disappointed with Pakistan's response on 26/11, and its lack of action in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

10:40 am: Every city of India vulnerable to coordinated attack by terrorists: Chidambaram

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Thursday described Wednesday's three serial explosions Mumbai as unfortunate and warned that every city of India was vulnerable to coordinated attacks by terrorists.

Addressing a joint press conference with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan here, Chidambaram said that a remote control device triggered off the explosions.

He said that ammonium nitrate was used in the explosions and added that it was unfortunate that in recent times, Pune and Mumbai had been the prime targets of the terrorists.

He said that various investigative teams were on the job to find forensic evidence to pinpoint who or what group was actually responsible for the explosions. He also said that in the 31 months since 26/11, the actionable response to such terror incidents and their aftermath had been praiseworthy.

"The three blasts, which ripped through the bustling Mumbai was timed just a few minutes apart with the first taking off at 6:45 p.m. Therefore, we infer this was a coordinated attack by terrorists," Chidambaram said.

10:30 am: Q+A - Who could be behind the Mumbai blasts?

No one has claimed responsibility. Security analysts say the pattern of the attack points to a local militant group called the Indian Mujahideen (IM).

A remote possibility is the Pakistan-based separatist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), known for its sympathies for al Qaeda and blamed for the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. Here's an analysis

10:15 am: Here's a timeline of bomb attacks in Maharashtra since 1993. Well, it's alarming!

10:05 am: No leads in Mumbai bomb attacks

India's home affairs minister Palaniappan Chidambaram says investigators have no immediate leads as to who was behind the triple bombing in the city of Mumbai that killed 17 people.

Chidambaram told a news conference Thursday that the blasts in three separate neighborhoods were "a coordinated terror attack."

He says the bombs were made of ammonium nitrate and were not remotely triggered.

There were no immediate leads as to the culprits and there were no intelligence warnings of a possible attack he added.

He lowered the casualty toll to 17 confirmed deaths and 131 injuries. He said a severed head was found that could be an 18th casualty. He did not explain the discrepancy from an earlier government statement that confirmed 21 deaths.

9:45 am: P Chidambaram says 17 people confirmed dead in Mumbai attack, not previous 21


9:15 am: Mumbai blasts: Twitter joins hands to help

The terror attack in Mumbai on Wednesday was the 13th attack on the city in 20 years. Amid the chaos, phonelines were jammed, traffic movement restricted and Mumbaikars stranded. But something was different this time, the users of the social networking site Twitter came together with three innocuous hashtags - #here2help, #needhelp and #mumbai which was trending all through Wednesday evening.

People on Twitter, kept the networking site updated with vital information they received on the Mumbai blasts. They helped in spreading the much needed call for help.

Twitter user Satyarth tweeted, "Food, support, time, companion, friend, blood (B +ve) - please feel free to ask fellow citizens. I am #here2help. I will do whatever I can."

Another Twitter user Sachin Malhotra tweeted, "#here2help... if taxis go off the road. Feel free to call and stay back at Chembur with my family."  Full story on IBN

8:45 am: What security experts have to say about terror and Pak military

The timing of these blasts is very significant. Firstly, the India-Pakistan talks have resumed. Then the Kasab trials are going on in Pakistan. But most importantly, the Pakistani military is currently under attack from all quarters: politicians, civil society, their media and the Americans; also there is distinct unrest in their ranks. The Americans are speaking to them and using language that people wouldn’t use with their subordinates and they’ve made it very clear that if the Army doesn’t get their act together, they will stop all funding. So how does the Pakistani army respond? Well, they attack India. It’s a diversionary tactic. The intention is to provoke India in such a manner that we will be forced to retaliate and then all of Pakistan will close ranks behind its army and be united.

Most terrorists don’t repeat targets. The only reason they keep attacking Mumbai is because there is nothing that has shaken the psyche of the country like the last Mumbai attack and they want to repeat that effect. More

8:15 am: Indian shares seen lower on weak Asia, Mumbai blasts

Indian shares are set to open lower on Thursday, weighed down by losses in most other major Asian markets after Moody's warned the United States may lose its top-notch credit rating in the coming weeks.  

Investors would also remain wary after three bombs rocked crowded districts of Mumbai on Wednesday evening, killing at least 21 people in the biggest militant attack on India's financial capital since 2008.    

"We could see the market opening a bit weaker but that will be more due to global cues," said Ambareesh Baliga, chief operating officer at Way2Wealth Securities. "I don't think the blasts will have a major impact on the market. We have seen this in the past."  

Shares in Tata Consultancy Services , India's top software services exporter, would be watched ahead of its quarterly results scheduled to be announced after trading hours.    

Traders would also be watching monthly inflation data due at 0630 GMT. India's wholesale price index probably rose 9.70 percent in June from a year earlier, quickening from May, on rising food and fuel prices, a Reuters poll showed.

8:00 am: Mumbai blasts: Is underworld behind the return of terror?

The security establishment was scrambling on Wednesday for any specific inputs that would give indications of who may have been behind the serial blasts that interrupted the past few months of lull from terror.

Sources were veering around to the opinion that the likelihood of underworld involvement was very high because of a host of factors. One official pointed out that the underworld has been "hyperactive" in recent weeks in Mumbai. There have been a number of reports about various developments in the underworld such as the killing of journalist J Dey and attacks on Dawood Ibrahim's brother's driver. Full story on ToI

7:00 am: Mumbai: Hot hunting ground for terror

Repeatedly hit over a half-a-dozen times since the early 1990s, India's financial capital has now become the favourite hunting ground for terror outfits. Over 600 people have died in these attacks. The macabre dance of death has unnerved citizens amid fears that Mumbai may go the Karachi way. Pakistan's port city, barely 800km from Mumbai, has been wracked with violence and bloodbath over the past few years.

"I am shocked beyond words. It proves yet again Mumbai's un-preparedness. Civilians are not on the radar of politicians, who live safely in their havens," said industrialist Dilip De. "It looks like a repeat telecast of the same incident. Politicians have already started the blame game and now the candle vigil marches will begin. The term security no longer has any meaning. It's a shame," said filmmaker and activist Ashoke Pandit. Former Mumbai police commissioner M N Singh, who headed the investigations into the serial blasts of 1993, said Mumbai will continue to be the prime target. "Mumbai has been attacked every three years since 2003. The city has a strong network of IM and SIMI. While the police upgraded its infrastructure and equipment after 26/11 attack, the focus should be on how to curb radicalization of youth from the minority community," he said. Read more on Times of India

6:00 am: Ammonium Nitrate used in the explosive devices, say sources

As Mumbai is still coming to terms with the triple terror strikes on Wednesday evening, security agencies are now probing the nature of blasts that ripped through the country's financial capital.

Initial investigations have revealed that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were used at all the three blast sites - at a bus stop in Dadar, outside the popular snack shops in Zaveri Bazaar in South Mumbai and next to Opera House in South Mumbai again. Sources say that upto seven IEDs may have been used in the blasts. More on NDTV

4:00 am: Mumbai attacks: Indian Mujahideen suspected behind Mumbai blasts

A home-grown Islamist terrorist group, the Indian Mujahideen (IM), is suspected to be behind the three moderate to high intensity explosions in Mumbai on Wednesday which Home Minister P. Chidambaram said were "coordinated attack by terrorists".

The terror attack, which claimed nearly 20 lives, comes days after two suspected Indian Mujahideen operatives, who provided vehicles used in the 2008 serial blasts in Gujarat that killed 56 people, were arrested from a Mumbai suburb by the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad (ATS).

2:40 am: Chidambaram in Mumbai, visits blast sites

Barely five hours after the Mumbai blasts, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram rushed to Mumbai around midnight Wednesday-Thursday for a spot assessment of the triple blasts which left 21 dead and 141 injured.

He was accompanied by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and newly-appointed MoS from Mumbai, Milind Deora, and other high-ranking home department and police officials. More

2:10 am: We condemn these despicable acts of violence designed to provoke fear and division. It is more important than ever that we stand with India. I will be traveling to India next week as planned, says Hillary Clinton. Here is the full story

1:20 am: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithiviraj Chavan confirms 21 dead and 141 injured so far; extent of injuries is not clearly known and casualties are expected to rise. Full story

14-07-2011

11:40 pm: Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has released a list of the dead and the injured in the Mumbai blast. Click here for the list

11:24 pm: Bharatiya Janata Party strongly condemned the Mumbai blasts and said it hoped that the government would take a clear stand on the issue of ending terror infrastructure.

'No words can ably express the anguish over these dastardly attacks. We condemn them in strongest possible words. We share the sorrow of the victims,' party president Nitin Gadkari said.

'We hope the government will move beyond reacting from one blast to another and take a clear stand on issues like effective deterrence infrastructure. These blasts are a reminder of the facts that cases like Afzal Guru continue to wait for final action and government dithers from not talking to Pakistan,' the statement added.

11:17 pm: The posh South Mumbai jewellery market Zaveri Bazar became a terror strike target for the third time.

Zaveri Bazar was first targeted in August 1993 when 13 serial blasts ripped through the city, killing 257 people and injuring over 700.

The Aug 25, 2003 twin blasts - one at Gateway of India and another at Zaveri Bazar -killed 54 people and injured another 244.


11:10 pm: The Vice President Hamid Ansari has strongly condemned the heinous terrorist attacks that occurred in various areas of Mumbai today.

He expressed deep shock at the scale of the attacks targeted against innocent people that have caused numerous fatalities and casualties. He said that such terrorist acts are aimed at destabilising the nation and urged all citizens to unite in this critical hour. He expressed deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured in the attacks.

The Vice President reiterated the national resolve to fight terrorism in all of its malevolent manifestations.

11:00 pm: UK foreign secretary, William Hague, condemns Mumbai attacks:

I send my deepest condolences to all those who have lost relatives or been injured in the bomb blasts in Mumbai. These were deplorable acts of terrorism. The UK stands firmly with India in the face of such atrocities. We are committed to working with the Indian government and our allies and partners to combat the threat from terrorism in all its forms.

10:50 pm: US President Barack Obama condemns Mumbai blast:

I strongly condemn the outrageous attacks in Mumbai, and my thoughts and prayers are with the wounded and those who have lost loved ones. The US government continues to monitor the situation, including the safety and security of our citizens. India is a close friend and partner of the United States. The American people will stand with the Indian people in times of trial, and we will offer support to India’s efforts to bring the perpetrators of these terrible crimes to justice. During my trip to Mumbai, I saw firsthand the strength and resilience of the Indian people, and I have no doubt that the India will overcome these deplorable terrorist attacks.

US condemns 'despiscable' Mumbai attacks
The United States condemned Wednesday's multiple bomb attacks in Mumbai, with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton calling them "despicable" and vowing to visit India next week as planned.
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.

A series of bomb attacks during Mumbai's evening rush hour has killed at least 21 people and injured scores of others.
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

Treating the injured in Mumbai
Blast victims are rushed to hospitals after serial blasts in Mumbai that killed at least 13 people. Deborah Lutterbeck reports.

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: Dadar 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

Analyst: 'It's happening again' in India
An expert on India says it's doubtful the Pakistan is behind the bombings in Mumbai but does warn terrorists are likely to target India and try to spark conflict between the two nations. (July 13)
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.