Many people have been killed and injured in a series of seven separate bomb attacks in Mumbai. At around 6.00pm local time, at the height of the rush hour, bombs exploded on different commuter trains. The blasts took place at Matunga, Khar, Mahim, Jogeshwari, Borivali and Bhayandar, with most on moving trains and two at stations. Local reports said the bombs appeared to have targeted first-class compartments. (BBC).

According to ‘The Hindu’, a senior Mumbai police official, P. S. Pasricha, said that the explosions were part of a well-coordinated attack. India's Home Minister said that the authorities had information that an attack was coming, but did not know the time or place.

All train travel on the Western Railway was suspended following the attacks, leaving many commuters struggling to leave the city.

As has become usual in such incidents, the mobile phone network became inaccessible, adding to the confusion.

Apart from the obvious impact on the railway company and its infrastructure and the horrific loss of life which will affect businesses as well as families and communities, from a general business continuity point of view, the main immediate effect will be linked to staff availability. This will be at its worst tomorrow, when employees face the difficult decision whether to risk the commute to work or to remain at home, due to fear of further attacks or because they believe that the journey to work will be too long and difficult.

FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON THE MUNBAI BOMBINGS AND RECOVERY FROM THE INCIDENT, CLICK HERE

•Date: 11th July 2006• Region: Asia •Type: Article •Topic: Terrorism
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