Mumbai: The Bombay High Court, on Monday, will pronounce judgment  in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case. 

A special bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak heard the the death confirmation pleas filed by the state government and the appeals by convicts. 

Four of the accused who were awarded death sentences are Mohammad Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan, Asif Khan, all of them bomb planters. The fifth accused sentenced to death, Kamal Ahamed Ansari, also an alleged bomb planter, died due to Covid in 2022.

The other seven – Tanvir Ahmed Ansari, Mohammad Majid Shafi, Shaikh Alam Shaikh, Mohd Sajid Ansari, Muzzammil Shaikh, Soheil Mehmood Shaikh and Zamir Ahmad Shaikh – have also approached the HC, challenging their life imprisonment.

About The Case

On July 11, 2006, RDX blasts at seven locations on the suburban rail network of Mumbai in a span of 11 minutes had claimed 189 lives and injured 827 commuters. After an eight-year-long trial, 12 out of the 13 accused were convicted. While five were given the death sentence, the remaining seven were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Initially, seven different FIRs were registered at local police stations. Considering the gravity of the offence, the case was transferred to the State Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) same month. 

While 13 accused were arrested, 15 people were shown as wanted, some of them allegedly in Pakistan. One of the accused died while planting the bomb in the train and the other was shot dead in an encounter. The ATS, invoked the MCOCA and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and the chargesheet was filed in November 2006. 

There were 192 prosecution witnesses and 51 defence witnesses and two court witnesses. As it was not possible to get all injured witnesses to court, the prosecution submitted 252 affidavits of the injured witnesses. 

Special public prosecutors Raja Thakare and A. Chimalkar appeared for the State. The special bench commences hearing in July 2024. It reserved judgment in the pleas in January this year. 

The special bench was constituted last year after Etheshaam Siddiqui, one of the convicts facing the death penalty, filed an application in the High Court seeking an early hearing and disposal of the appeals. The case has remained pending since a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court awarded death sentences to five persons in 2015. 

Eleven different benches commenced hearings but were unable to conclude. 

Mumbai: Heavy rains along gusty winds and overcast skies have taken over the city of Mumbai and the suburbs around. The daily commuters for work, college, schools are facing immense difficulty due to waterlogging and delays in transport. IMD has further asserted alert for the next 3 hours in Mumbai, advised against travelling unless it is important to.

Mumbai airport, Indigo and SpiceJet have issued travel advisory to the commuters as flights to and connecting from Mumbai are facing delays. The airport and airlines have asked commuters to stay updated with the latest status of their flights.

Mumbai Braces Heavy Rains

Heavy rainfall affected parts of Mumbai on July 21, particularly South Mumbai and the Western suburbs, leading to waterlogged areas like Marine Drive and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. Visuals depicted flooding on roads, prompting many to seek shelter. Andheri and Kurla also reported significant waterlogging, affecting the railway station, and the Andheri subway was closed to traffic due to persistent rain.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed that rain would continue for several hours, with possible thunderstorms, lightning, and wind speeds of 30-40 km/h. Initially, a yellow alert was issued for moderate to heavy rainfall, later upgraded to an orange alert for the following hours.

Expected temperatures ranged from 25°C to 31°C with partly cloudy skies, prompting commuters to carry umbrellas and exercise caution on slippery roads. The weather is anticipated to last the entire week.

Mumbai Local Trains Face Delay

Public transport faced major disruptions in the morning, with local trains on the harbour line running 20-25 minutes late due to waterlogged conditions along with Western and Central line face 10-15 minute delay according to M-Indicator app news.

An occurrence of rainwater seeping through AC ducts in Mumbai local trains has emerged. The images of the event have been spreading rapidly across social media

Waterlogging On Roads Causing Traffic

The heavy rains along with clogged up drains led to heavy waterlogging in the city as well as the suburbs. Mumbai traffic police issued multiple traffic advisories due to the traffic caused in areas.

Visuals From Andheri

Visuals from Andheri are making turns on social media as residents express distress over BMC’s lack of attention to the road that always ends up clogging during rains.

Mumbai: Heavy rainfall drenched parts of Mumbai on Monday, July 21, with South Mumbai and Western suburbs witnessing heavy downpours. Areas like Marine Drive and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus were soaked due to overnight rainfall, as visuals showed partially waterlogged roads and people taking refuge under shelters.

Visuals from Andheri and Kurla show waterlogging in several parts and the railway station. Andheri subway was reported closed for traffic after incessant rainfall. LBS Road in Kurla, DP Road in Powai and Saki Naka also reported traffic snarls due to waterlogging.

Heavy Rains Alert Issued For The City

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the rain was likely to persist for at least a few hours, accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 km/h. A yellow alert was initially issued for the city, signalling the likelihood of moderate to heavy rainfall. However, the weather department issued a nowcast warning upgrading it to orange alert for next few hours.

The weather department stated that temperatures would hover between 25°C and 31°C, with partly cloudy skies expected. Commuters were advised to carry umbrellas and remain cautious while heading out, especially as water accumulation and slippery roads could pose hazards during peak traffic hours.

Disruption Reported Due To Heavy Rains

Commuters reported major disruption while using the city’s public transportation today in the morning. Local trains on the harbour line were running 20-25 minutes late, as reported by commuters. Traffic disruption was reported in western and central suburbs due to waterlogging in several parts.

IndiGo Airline Issues Statement

IndiGo Airlines issued a statement alerting its passengers of the adverse weather conditions in the city. “Heavy rain showers have settled in over Mumbai, and the roads are feeling the impact. Several routes towards the airport are seeing slow-moving traffic due to steady downpour. If you are flying today, please plan ahead, leave a little earlier, and check your flight status on our app or website before stepping out,” the statement read.

“We understand these conditions can affect your journey. Our teams are ready to support you on the ground and are working to keep operations running as steadily as possible. Thank you for your understanding,” it further read.

IMD Warns Of Heavy Rains This Week

The downpour comes as part of the ongoing monsoon activity, which is expected to continue intensifying over the week. As the city moves deeper into the monsoon season, the IMD forecast indicates the likelihood of more rain throughout the week. On Tuesday, moderate rainfall and overcast skies are expected, along with occasional thunderstorms. The overall temperature will remain mild, although humidity levels may remain steady.

By Wednesday, rainfall activity is projected to increase, with a fresh yellow alert issued for the day. Heavier showers and widespread cloud cover are expected to dominate the city’s weather. The pattern is likely to persist into Thursday, with several parts of Mumbai potentially experiencing intense rainfall and continuous overcast conditions.

No Severe Weather Alert For Weekend

On Friday, the rainfall may ease slightly, though light to moderate rain remains in the forecast. Temperatures are expected to stay relatively stable, with a marginal decrease in humidity levels. Saturday may continue with similar weather conditions, as rain is likely to persist under predominantly cloudy skies. However, no severe weather alert has been issued for the weekend as of now.