Mumbai blasts: Twitter joins hands to help

New Delhi: The terror attack in Mumbai on Wednesday was the 13th attack on the city in 20 years. Amid the chaos, phonelines were jammed, traffic movement restricted and Mumbaikars stranded. But something was different this time, the users of the social networking site Twitter came together with three innocuous hashtags - #here2help, #needhelp and #mumbai which was trending all through Wednesday evening.

People on Twitter, kept the networking site updated with vital information they received on the Mumbai blasts. They helped in spreading the much needed call for help.

Twitter user Satyarth tweeted, "Food, support, time, companion, friend, blood (B +ve) - please feel free to ask fellow citizens. I am #here2help. I will do whatever I can."

Another Twitter user Sachin Malhotra tweeted, "#here2help... if taxis go off the road. Feel free to call and stay back at Chembur with my family."

Twitter user Anusha went a step further by using the combined strength of the two most popular social networking sites - Twitter and Facebook - saying, "Need 'B' positive blood in Saifee hospital. Contact Jinal 9821204555 #mumbaiblasts #here2hel."

Bollywood personalities also expressed their shock and concern for the serial blasts.

Actor Amitabh bachchan tweeted, "Bomb blasts in Mumbai..!! God! I hope people are safe."

Filmmaker Karan Johar was outraged as he wrote, "Prayers are strong but cannot replace accountability... resilience cannot be considered as back up!!!"

Strong words came in from Actor-Director Farhan Akhtar as well. He tweeted, "Cowards strike again! Condolence to all who have lost someone dear. To the rest, please do not panic. Get home safe."

Tennis player-turned-producer, Mahesh Bhupathi, tweeted, "If someone can explain how bombing innocent civilians solves anything I am all ears... God bless us all."

There, also, were those who offered their thanks for the help and support Mumbai was receiving.

Twitter user Neville Shah tweeted, "What an evening. Thank you people of #heretohelp, #Here2Help, #mumbai. You've just been awesome."

The 5-year-old website Twitter has a checkered history. The recent Arab uprising was shaped on this website, with thousands who used it to organise huge gatherings in Egypt's Tehrir square.

Social networking sites weren't the only help Mumbai received, Mumbaikars circulated a spreadsheet filling up their contact details and how each of them can contribute to the victims of the blasts.

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