Railways, Mumbaikars paid tributes to 7/11 bomb blast victims

The Western Railway (WR) as well as scores of Mumbaikars Thursday paid rich tributes to the victims of the serial bomb blasts that targetted the suburban rail network 13 years ago.

On July 11, 2006, a series of explosions rocked seven first class coaches of suburban trains.

Heads of departments of the WR, along with other senior railway officers placed wreaths on all the seven stations targetted during the terror attack as a mark of respect and paid tributes to those who lost their lives.

The 7/11 serial blasts, carried out in a span of just 11 minutes, targetted suburban services during the evening peak hours as bombs kept in pressure cookers went off in north-bound local trains on the WR.

A total of 209 commuters were killed and another 700- plus injured in the most deadly attack on Mumbai's lifeline at Bhayander, Borivali, Jogeshwari, Khar Road, Bandra, Mahim and Matunga Road.

According to a WR statement, its officers and staffers observed silence for two minutes as a mark of respect to the victims.

Former Lok Sabha BJP MP Kirit Somaiya visited the Mahim station to pay tribute to the victims.

Later, Somaiya said victims' families were still waiting for punishment to the perpetrators of the terror attack.

Somaiya told PTI, "Families were still waiting for punishment and execution of terrorists involved in the dastardly terror attack.

"Relief, rehabilitation and giving a new lease of life to those injured in the blasts are OK, but no one can forget that painful day," Somaiya said.