Photograph of a family on the Marine Drive seawall, Mumbai, India
Yet again, India’s economic powerhouse, Mumbai, is under attack. Three bombs went off on July 13, 2011 at about 7 pm in three crowded areas of Mumbai: two in the south of the city and one in the centre. In the south, the opera house area and the Zaveri Bazaar were targeted, while the third blast hit Dadar, in the centre of the city.
Mobile phone lines are jammed, and police authorities are encouraging people in need to follow the news and to use Twitter and social media. Mumbaikers are responding by also using these channels to spread news, information, phone numbers and to offer help.
Author Amithav Ghosh wrote this about the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the words still ring true: “For if there is any one lesson to be learnt from the wave of terror attacks that has convulsed the globe over the last decade it is this: defeat or victory is not determined by the success of the strike itself. It is determined by the response.” Thanks to Syerah from MyBindi for posting this inspirational quote, and for inspiring me to use my blog to help.
Here are resources for news, information and help:
Mumbai Spreadsheet and Help Page
Check out the Mumbai Spreadsheet for an constantly updating list of phone numbers and locations of police, hospitals, blood banks, requests for help and and offers of help. Also includes lists of missing and injured.Contribute if you can!
A page of helpful numbers is posted here, Mumbai Help.
Use these # hashtags on Twitter to find and offer help:
#mumbaihelp
#needhelp
#theretohelp
#here2help
#mumbai
#mumbaiblasts
Follow @Bloodaid to find out about blood banks
Follow live Twitter feed of Vikas Bajaj in Dadar.
Phone numbers
Emergency numbers from OneIndia
Hospital helpline numbers:
KEM (022-24136051)
Nair (022-23085379)
Harkishandas (23855555 / 30095555)
Saifee (22 6757 0111)
Emergency numbers:
022-22621855
022-22621983
022-22625020
022-22641449
News
For up-to-date news, check these online outlets:
Mid-Day’s list of dead and injured
CNN-IBN live
BBC news and analysis
The Guardian live updates
Rediff on the Net live feed
NDTV video coverage
Wall Street Journal live blog
Reuters slideshow
Map
The Guardian has published a map of the blasts.
Mariellen Ward is a freelance travel writer whose personal style is informed by a background in journalism, a dedication to yoga and a passion for sharing the beauty of India’s culture and wisdom with the world. She has traveled for about a year altogether in India and publishes an India travel blog, Breathedreamgo.com. Mariellen also writes for magazines and newspapers.
