CNewsworld MUMBAI: Three blasts rocked Mumbai within minutes of each other, police said on Wednesday. According to TV reports, eight persons have died in the blasts and 70 have been injured.Police sources said the nature and intensity of the blasts was not known. The ministry has confirmed it is a terror strike.
The first explosion took place in south Mumbai's Zaveri Bazaar, near the famous Mumbadevi temple, in which some people were injured, said Mumbai Police spokesperson Nisar Tamboli. The bustling market also has a number of jewellery shops.
The second explosion was reported in a taxi in Dadar area in central Mumbai, he said.
The third blast was reported from south Mumbai's Opera House in Charni Road after 7pm.
All three are busy commercial and residential areas, and were bustling with people and traffic during the evening peak hours when the explosions took place.
The communication network has been jammed. People are unable to get through phone lines in the city.
An NIA team has been sent for Mumbai. All states have been put on high alert. A parked car bore the brunt of the blast in Dadar.
Police teams quickly moved into the three places. In New Delhi, the home ministry put the National Security Guard (NSG) on alert.
Three explosions have taken place in Mumbai on Wednesday evening - two in South Mumbai at Opera House and in Zaveri Bazar and one at Dadar West, in central Mumbai. The Home Ministry has confirmed a terrorist attack and Mumbai is on high alert.
All blasts took place during rush hour and in crowded places.
Eyewitnesses said about 15 to 20 people have taken to hospital in Zaveri Bazar. Reports said six people had died in the Dadar blast, four in the Zaveri Bazaar blast. Government sources put the number of injured at 60.
One explosion, in a car at a bus stop in Dadar West, has been confirmed. A police officer said there might have been an explosive in a meter box behind a hoarding at Khau gali, a street filled with eateries at Zaveri Bazaar. The Opera House blast took place at Prasad Chamber.
An unexploded bomb has also reportedly been found in Dadar and a bomb disposal squad is working to defuse it.
Early reports said a police control room had received a call claiming that there were serial blasts in Mumbai.
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team has rushed to Mumbai from Delhi to investigate and collect forensic evidence. The police have appealed for calm.
Zaveri Bazaar has been hit before - over 50 people were killed in twin blasts in 2002.
Malls, markets and other crowded places in Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore are on high alert.
