One of the three explosions that rocked Mumbai’s rush hour
on July 13 took place outside the Panchratna Building in Opera House, the city’s traditional diamond
district, according to reports from the local and international press.

A second explosion was reported in Zaveri Bazaar, a site of numerous local jewelers.

At press time, it was not clear if any industry members were
injured.

Reports say 10 people are known to have been killed and 100
injured in the explosions. Indian officials have labeled the blasts a terrorist
attack.

Rapaport Corp. has posted an eyewitness account from the head of its Mumbai office, which can be seen here.

Diamond trader Aproova Mehta told Rediff that he felt the bomb blast in his office and that the entire building shook.

“We were so scared that the first thing we did was to
close the main gate,” Mehta continued. “Our building’s security,
which is usually very high, was put on alert. We closed all the gates of the
building. The diamond trade is too risky.”

Several industry members were among those in danger during
the 2008
terrorist attacks at Mumbai’s two leading hotels, the Taj Mahal and the Oberoi.
JCK’s first India rep was
killed in that attack.

JCK