'Sabotage' cited as cause for Mumbai blasts

New Delhi, July 28: ''Sabotage'' has been cited as the provisional cause by a statutory inquiry for the July 11 devastating serial blasts in Mumbai, targeting the western metropolis' suburban rail system, the government today said.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Railways R Velu said the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Western Circle (Mumbai) belonging to the Civil Aviation Ministry, which conducted a statutory inquiry into the terror blasts, submitted its preliminary report yesterday.

''In the preliminary report, 'sabotage' has been given as the provisional cause,'' said the minister.

Giving details of the resultant mayhem, he said 184 people were killed and 835 received injuries as per the information available on July 25. Of the injured, 372 people were discharged after being administered first aid, 206 sustained simple injuries and 257 received grievous injuries.

Considering the seriousness of the incidents, he said the Railway Ministry had announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh for the next of the kith and kin of the deceased.

In addition, one dependent family member of the deceased would be offered job in the Railways. ''An ex-gratia payment of Rs 50,000 has also been announced to each of the grievously injured persons and Rs 10,000 to each of those with simple injuries,'' he said.

Mr Velu said seven powerful bomb blasts took place in First Class compartments of various EMU local trains in Mumbai suburban services between 1820 hrs and 1835 hrs.

UNI

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