Mumbai blasts: A web of support for victims

As television channels flashed news about the Mumbai blasts and phone networks choked, netizens from across the country joined hands on social networking sites offering help to the victims in every possible manner.

While status messages on Twitter and Facebook requested people to confirm their safety, many logged in to networking sites to update themselves with the news. Though the communication through this medium was a bit haphazard initially, tech-savvy users soon got into the flow with much needed information aimed at helping the blast victims.

Mumbaikars, who are known as good Samaritans, were quick enough to offer assistance to the victims in whatever manner they could. Using handles such as "#MumbaiBlasts", "#here2help" and "#needhelp", many shared their addresses on Twitter, asking those who were stranded due of traffic restrictions to drop by in order to reach a safe location.

Some others offered shelter and food to stranded victims, while a few volunteered to donate blood. One user named 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."

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Another user Sachin Malhotra tweeted: "#here2help... if taxis go off the road. Feel free to call and stay back at Chembur with my family." Another user Nikhil Narayanan posted: "RT @mokshjuneja Anyone who needs to take a breather in Chembur, you are welcome to be hosted at my place call me 9322121170 #mumbaiblasts."

By 9pm there was also a Google spreadsheet being circulated, providing details about the addresses, numbers and others helps offered on Facebook and Twitter. One Dina Mehta tweeted: "Mumbai help spreadsheet -- offers of help across the city being compiled in an open doc spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/lv #mumbaiblasts"

The link opened a Google document which was open to editing so that anyone wishing to add their numbers/location to the list could do so. By 11pm, the document had been updated by over 200 people, offering blasts victims assistance that included food, shelter, blood even phone calls among others.

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There was also a blog, a crowd-sourced map and a Wikipedia page to provide right and relevant information to people in real time. There were also people who showered praises and thanks on those who offered their help to victims.

One Neville Shah tweeted: "What an evening. Thank you people of #heretohelp, #Here2Help, #mumbai. You've just been awesome."