The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India deplored the July 11 deadly bomb blasts in Mumbai that claimed more than 130 lives and injured more than 200 people.

"It is a blatant act of aggression on harmless people, and this must be countered with courage and determination by all concerned," the bishops said in a statement. "We appeal to all the affected people to maintain calm and equanimity at this hour of sorrow and grief so that the nefarious designs of the anti-social elements can be defeated."

The seven bomb blasts, most of them in railway cabins, came within minutes of each other during the evening rush hour. Authorities were calling the blasts well-coordinated terrorist attacks, and there was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The railway system is the city's lifeline for its more than 20 million people. The Mumbai blasts were preceded by five minor blasts in Srinagar that killed eight people in the capital of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are really shocked," said Auxiliary Bishop Percival Fernandez of Mumbai in an interview with Catholic News Service July 11.

Bishop Fernandez said stranded commuters were camping at St. Pius Seminary's Goregaon campus, where he lives, because train service was canceled and telephone lines were disconnected.

"We are making arrangements to accommodate those coming in as they cannot go home tonight," said Bishop Fernandez.

"Many families are in panic," said Dolphy D'Souza, president of the Mumbai Catholic lay council. With casualty figures increasing, D'Souza told CNS, "this only adds to the worries of the families whose members have not been able to establish contact with them."

"My heart reaches out and grieves for all those affected by these blasts and who have lost their near and dear," said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "The series of blasts in Jammu and Kashmir and Mumbai are shocking and cowardly attempts to spread a feeling of fear and terror among our citizens."

The prime minister called an emergency Cabinet meeting. Pakistan joined in condemning the attacks.

"Our hearts go out to the victims, the injured and the relatives of the dead as we pray for peace and courage in the face of this dastardly conspiracy," said the All India Catholic Union in a statement signed by the president, John Dayal. "These dark forces of fanaticism strengthen each other in a mutual frenzy of disseminating hate and intolerance. The nation must be united in defeating them wherever they exist."

---CNS