2006 Mumbai Train Bombings: What went behind restoring rail operations? Officials reveal the untold story

The year was 2006. The date was 11th July. The time was 6.24 pm. A loud explosion in the first-class compartment of a local train between Khar and Santacruz sounded the alarm for the tragedy that was to unfold in the next 11 minutes. Seven blasts were triggered within that span across seven different local trains on the Western Railway line in Mumbai, bringing the urban transportation system of the city to a grinding halt.

The 2006 Mumbai train bombings devastated the city, causing immense loss of life. That fateful day also tested the resilience of Mumbai's commuter train network.

What happened in the railway office that day? How did the restoration take place? Two Western Railway officials, who were a part of the train operations team at the time, share personal accounts of the events that unfolded and emotions that prevailed on the day of the blast with mid-day.com.

What transpired on 11th July 2006?

"I was then working in the control office, handling the board between Virar and Andheri stations. I took charge around 5:30 in the evening and continued with regular work when the news of a loud noise reached us at 6:25 pm. It first came from Jogeshwari station and Borivali followed. The next incident was reported between Bhayander and Mira Road," reveals Prashant Kumar Majumdar, Traffic Inspector (Trains), Western Railway.

"I informed the seniors and the electricity supply to the overhead wires of the trains was cut immediately. That is when we realised something huge had happened, but we weren't aware of the specifics. When the station masters came out and checked, we were informed that it was a blast, in fact, several blasts in a row," he adds.

Prashant Kumar Majumdar (L), M.K. Jagesh (R) (Photo Courtesy: Raj Patil)

On the other hand, MK Jagesh, Traffic Inspector (Trains), Western Railway, left the office after completing the morning shift on the day of the blast. However, he was not away from its impact.

"On the next day, a few of the controllers, including me, were planning to go on a bike trip. So, we went home after giving the charge to the next person. In the evening, I had to go to Kandivali from Andheri. I went to the foot-over bridge. There were two trains, one on the slow track and the other on the fast track. I don't know why but I skipped one train and decided to take the next one," he recounts.

"Afterwards, I learned there was a blast on the train I skipped. By the time I reached Jogeshwari, we got the message that there were blasts on trains and that all trains were stopped," he adds.

The next steps

Once the news reached the control office and the gravity of the situation came to light, the railway officials sprung into action.

"We tried to keep a cool mind. All motormen and guards were informed that this had happened within 2 to 2.5 minutes through the Track Management System (TMS). Because of cutting the wires, all trains were halted. Announcing the incident would have created panic and passengers would have jumped from one train to another, posing a risk of accidents from oncoming trains. Hence, we had to stop all trains first," explains Majumdar.

Jagesh's train stopped at Malad. "When I got down at Malad station, people were being evacuated. I saw so many ambulances. People were travelling in buses, trucks, etc., just trying to reach home. There was no transportation available, so I walked back home to Andheri," he tells us, adding, "I had so many questions. Did anything happen to our colleagues? Were they okay? What was happening in the railway office? Shortly after, we were informed that our leaves were cancelled and we had to report to the office the next day."

Emotions vs Duty

When one is in a position of responsibility or a first responder in such disastrous situations, it becomes difficult to balance their own emotions and their duties. Did these railway officials face the same dilemma, we ask?

"At that time, we knew we had to do our work without thinking about anything else. We had to try to do some good. When the blast happened, we lamented that many people might be going through tragic circumstances. But we couldn't stop. We called as many people as we could for help, including local NGOs," shares Majumdar.

"My wife was also working at that time. So, I was scared for her. Phones were not working. She was also worried because she knew I was travelling at the time. Luckily, I could get in touch with her. Despite everything, I had to show up the next day and do my job," affirms Jagesh.

The environment at the railway office was soon affected by news of personal loss.

"One of our colleagues, a controller, left at 5-5:30 pm that day and we got to know the next morning that he was a victim in the bomb blast. One of our seniors also lost his son to the attack," reveals Majumdar.

The restoration begins

Western Railway received clearance from the Forensics Department to begin the restoration work around 3:30 in the morning. The restoration was done within eight hours, with trains resuming operations by 9-9:15 am.

Western Railway Track Management System (TMS) (Pic: Raj Patil)

"The first train was between Mahalaxmi and Churchgate and the second one was between Borivali and Goregaon. We worked overnight and left at 10 in the morning. Restoration within eight hours was made possible by coordination between all the departments," states Majumdar.

Stressing the magnitude of the efforts undertaken, Jagesh says, "We had not faced this before. There were seven blasts. We had to save the passengers, follow evacuation protocols, work on restoration, and ensure the protection of railway assets and the evidence. It was not just about the railways. We had to coordinate with the police, fire department, intelligence agencies, etc."

What changed after the incident?

Both Majumdar and Jagesh revealed that commuters became more aware and started reporting every suspicious or unclaimed object.

On the other hand, disaster management training for officials came more into focus. Robust SOPs were put in place.

"Now we have hotlines through which the entire state machinery can be activated by one phone call. Robust security measures are in place. AI has made identifying criminals easier. There are CCTVs everywhere," informs Jagesh.

Mumbai's undying spirit

Mumbai has been subjected to many tragic attacks in the past, which have caused grave losses individually for people as well as for the city.

Yet, Mumbai is considered a city that never stops, never sleeps and always bounces back.

"When I stepped out of the office the next day of the blast, it didn't seem like something had happened in Mumbai. It was a normal day and people were going about their daily routine. The thing about Mumbai is that whatever happens, it happens and stays in that moment, day or period. Mumbaikars get back to their lives immediately after," expresses Majumdar.

Jagesh backs the observation. "There was no change in the rush the next day. People who had to go to the office were going to the office. The spirit of Mumbai remained intact. The investigation and other procedures were running parallel. But Mumbai was back to normal the next day," he says.

"Like our railways, Mumbai non-stop chalti hai! (Mumbai works non-stop like the railways)," he concludes.

Overview of the 7/11 attack:

- On July 11, 2006, a series of coordinated bomb blasts targeted Mumbai's commuter trains during the evening rush hour.

- The seven explosions occurred within 11 minutes, between 6:24 pm and 6:35 pm, on the Western Line. The bombs were concealed in pressure cookers and placed in the first-class compartments of several trains.

- The explosions took place at or near seven stations: Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Mahim Junction, Mira Road, Matunga Road, and Borivali.

-The attacks resulted in the killing of nearly 200 people and injuring over 700.

-Train services were partially restored by the early morning of July 12, with full services resuming gradually in the following days.

- The 7/11 attack in Mumbai was carried out by a group of seven terrorists who were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).