Wednesday, July 12 2006 12:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Mumbai was back on its feet Wednesday, albeit with a lot of bruises, the morning after serial blasts ripped through the city's railway network killing more than 180 people and injuring more than 460.

Demonstrating an unparalleled strength of spirit - a cliché one cannot escape using in this tragedy worn city's context Mumbaikars were back to business, no doubt visibly shocked and shaken.

Setting an example of the legendary fighting spirit of the megalopolis was the Western Railway network, which was crippled severely, only a few hours back by a series of seven bomb blasts on its route.

Almost all the trains on the local Western Railway line were back on track, as usual ferrying the crowds of people to their destinations.

"The Churchgate-Andheri line is fully normal, while the Churchgate-Borivili trains are running around 15 minutes behind schedule," Western Railway chief public relations officer Pranai Prabhakar told sources.

"While the Borivili-Virar trains are running 30 minutes late, this will be brought back to normal by late morning," he said.

"Although I would not say the system is back to normal, we have bounced back much better than what they (the perpetrators of the blasts) would have expected," Prabhakar observed.

The government had declared Tuesday itself that schools and colleges will function normally on Wednesday.

The Bombay Stock Exchange too had decided to go about their business although fears are abound that the blasts would dampen the trading on the Sensex.

Many commuters, the worst hit on Tuesday, were back to their routines as they the travelled to their respective work places.

"If we start hiding and escaping form these terror activities then we will have time only for that," said Abhinav Pandey, an ad agency professional.

"Let's just get back to work and show these guys what stuff we are made of," Abhinav said. Shops and business establishments began operations in most parts of Mumbai, although not without a tinge of nervousness and shock.

"What I saw yesterday (Tuesday) was straight from hell. Those who are behind this will soon be there," said Hamid Kotiwala, a sweetmeat vendor in Andheri in western Mumbai. "A friend of mine has been injured and has been admitted to the K.E.M hospital where I saw really heart-wrenching scenes," the 57-year-old Hamid said.

Meanwhile the death toll that had stood at less than 140 Tuesday soared to 183 amid fears the number might touch 200 by the end of the day.

"The toll has touched 183 with 154 from Mumbai city and 29 from Thane district. The number of injured is 663 - 553 from Mumbai and 90 from Thane," said R.N. Tadvi, deputy commissioner of police (operations).