Wednesday,the 13th

Soon people were reaching out to each other. While some offered car pools,others offered help through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. There was a mixed feeling of anger and panic,even as people tried in vain to get through on phone lines in the city,which were jammed minutes after the blasts.

Trains,both in the western and central suburbs,were running as usual. But no vehicles were allowed to ply on the road adjacent to Churchgate station. Similarly,at CST,the railway police had closed a couple of entry gates to streamline the movement of commuters.

With the city on high alert,two constables at the Churchgate station rapidly frisked commuters with metal detectors,even as they checked their bags and umbrellas. They,however,said they were doing their usual job,and checking had not been stepped up due to the blasts.

“The crowd at CST at around 8:15 pm was not even 60 per cent of what it is everyday. There were more commuters between 7:15 and 8 pm,as a large number of people simply walked into any compartment to board the first train available,” said a Railway Protection Force personnel at CST.

While some people decided to leave early for home,many cancelled their plans for the evening as a precautionary measure. The police were also seen asking people not to gather in large numbers. “It was my birthday today and I was supposed to meet some of my friends at Juhu. I was shocked when my mother informed me about the blasts. I have cancelled all my plans now and am even scared to board the train. I have called my brother to pick me up at Andheri station,” said Mausumi Bhagwat,a college student and a resident of Andheri,who was about to board the Virar fast local from Churchgate station.

Most shops in the markets across the city shut early. “As soon as we heard the news of the blast at Zaveri Bazar,we immediately closed the shops. Since there were no taxis plying to Churchgate station,I have decided to walk to the station,” said Nagesh Vora,a shopowner at D N Road,Fort.

Meanwhile,two unclaimed bags found in the city caused panic for some time. While one was found in the ladies compartment of a Churchgate-bound train,another was spotted at a shop near Santacruz railway station. As the train took off at 7:30 pm from Borivali,passengers in a second class ladies compartment started inquiring about a black bag lying unattended. When nobody came to claim the bag,the passengers immediately called the railway helpline and reported the matter. The bag was finally taken away by a RPF constable at Jogeshwari railway station. The second bag was found in a shop. The police reached the spot immediately after receiving a call and the area was evacuated. However,the bag only had a bunch of wires.