Terrorists had benefit of surprise, says PM

As Mumbai nursed its wounds from yesterday’s triple terror blasts, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi visited the injured in hospitals and shared the feelings of grieving Mumbaikars.

The two leaders, accompanied by Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, visited Saifee and JJ Hospitals to comfort the injured trying to recover from the shock and trauma of the triple explosions.

The prime minister showered lavish praise on the state administration, saying it had risen remarkably well after the serial blasts last evening.

“The state administration has risen remarkably well on this occasion. Within an hour of the attacks, the injured were rushed to the hospitals,” Singh said after visiting the injured at the government-run J J Hospital here along with the Congress president.

“There has been a remarkable coordination of efforts. Now, the task is to find out who the culprits are and bring them to justice,” Singh said, adding he had come to Mumbai to share the deep sorrow of the people.

“Terrorists have struck once again. We have to make every effort to ensure that the injured recover to their normal self. To those who have lost their dear ones, we express our sympathies.”

“This time, there was no prior indication of the attack. Terrorists had the advantage of surprise,” he said.

Singh and Gandhi spent around 25 minutes at Saifee Hospital in Central Mumbai where 37 of the 131 wounded are undergoing treatment.