by Smita Patankar

Bombs were set off during the evening rush hour. No one has yet to claim responsibility. Preliminary figures put the death toll at least 40 with many more injured.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) – Seven bomb blasts rocked Mumbai's suburban railway service at rush hour killing tens of people in India's financial hub. Police reports that the early death toll stands at between 40 and 60.

It is still not known why the attacks were launched as people made their way home from work, but India's Home Ministry said the terror attacks were planned.

For some days, Mumbai residents have had to face intimidation by members of Shiv Sena, a Hindu nationalist movement that has blamed the city for damages to a bust of the wife of one of its founders.

Police are instead inclined to suspect Islamic separatists like those behind the attacks in 1993, 2002 and 2003.

The first explosions went off at about 1830 local time (1300 GMT) at Borivili, Khar, Jogeshwari, Matunga and Meera Road areas.

Mumbai and the capital Delhi have been put on high alert.

The first TV images show blown-up trains, wrecked carriages and dazed and blood-splattered commuters clambering along the tracks.

Some of the injured have been taken to the nearby V N Desai hospital; others were admitted to the KEM Hospital in Parel

The Western Railway Emergency Services confirmed the explosions but are waiting before further information is released.

A Rediff.com reporter, who was at Mahim railway station soon after reports of the blast came in, said he could see one train compartment completely blown up in the explosion.

The railway system has been shut down and phone lines are overloaded.

Thirty minutes into the tragedy the police was still not on the scene.

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• Mumbai
• explosions
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• blasts