Blasts toll is 190, no word on explosive used

The toll in Tuesday's serial blasts that rocked Mumbai's suburban railway network rose to 190 today even as the city showed signs of limping back to normalcy.

The police said 190 persons were killed and another 625 injured in the blasts that took place in first class compartments of trains at Mira-Bhayander, Borivli and Jogeshwari (in north Mumbai), Santacruz and Khar (in north-west Mumbai), and Mahim and Matunga (in central Mumbai) and on the Western Railway network yesterday.

Authorities have declared that all schools and colleges shall remain open today, indicating that the situation in the city was well under control.

The Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has waived cremation charges for victims of the blasts.

The police said high grade explosive material was used in the blasts but the exact nature of the explosives was yet to be established.

Railway officials said services on the Western Railway, which were suspended following the blasts, have been restored after the damaged overhead electrical lines and signalling system were repaired during the night. The trains in this section were, however, running 15 to 20 minutes behind schedule.

The authorities said extra security has been put in place at Mumbai airport as the country's financial capital and the rest of Maharashtra continued to be on high alert.

United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited the injured at Bhabha Hospital in Bandra and the Matunga blast site late last night. She was accompanied by Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad.

Speaking to reporters, Patil said, "We will not spare any of the culprits and will do everything possible to bring them to book. We appeal to the people to maintain peace."