R 131852Z MAR 09
FM AMCONSUL MUMBAI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7011
INFO AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 
AMCONSUL CHENNAI 
AMCONSUL HYDERABAD 
AMCONSUL KOLKATA 
AMCONSUL MUMBAI

UNCLAS MUMBAI 000104 
 
 
DEPT FOR DS/OSAC, DS/IP/SCA, DS/TIA/ITA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC KSAC
SUBJECT: MUMBAI ANNUAL OSAC CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT 
 
REF: 08 STATE 171548 
 
Subject: Annual OSAC Crime/Safety Report - Mumbai, India 
 
 
¶1.  (U) The following is Mumbai's 2008 Annual Overseas Security 
Advisory Council (OSAC) Crime and Safety Report. 
 
¶2.  (U) Overall Crime and Safety Situation: 
 
¶A. (U) Crime Threat: Crime is moderate for a city with 18 
million (or more) inhabitants. To date crime has not affected 
expatriates to an unusual degree. While street crime from pick 
pocketing to robbery/assault is not uncommon, areas frequented 
by foreigners are less vulnerable since they enjoy a generally 
adequate police presence. Murders and other violent crimes do 
occur in Mumbai and for the most part have been isolated in the 
congested parts of the city. High density areas such as slums 
and crowded apartment blocks are often the scenes of violent 
crime and organized crime activity. Most expatriates report 
nuisance level crimes such as pick pocketing and minor scams. 
There have been a few reports of expatriate companies being the 
recipient of extortion threats by organized crime elements. As 
India's IT sector expands so does the complexity and capability 
of organizations conducting organized white collar financial 
scams and crimes. West African/Nigerian fraud rings are also 
active in Mumbai. While these groups target lower income Indian 
citizens, it is not uncommon for the groups to use the names of 
actual American diplomats or businessmen in their fraudulent 
materials. 
 
¶B. (U) Safety Concerns: Roads in Mumbai are in moderate 
condition, but the city's infrastructure is not keeping pace 
with its rapid growth. There is extreme traffic congestion in 
Mumbai, which does have the positive effect of limiting many 
high speed traffic accidents/fatalities. Emergency medical 
services in Mumbai are extremely limited. Ambulances are poorly 
equipped and traffic congestion often prevents an individual 
from making it to a hospital within the golden hour of trauma. 
Efforts are being made to improve the city's emergency 
medicine/trauma care capabilities. 
 
¶3.  (U) Political Violence: 
 
¶A. (U) Regional Terrorism: Terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba 
have shown a willingness to target Mumbai, since the vibrant 
city is the financial and entertainment capital of India. Mumbai 
experienced this most recently on 26 November 2008 when the city 
witnessed a coordinated armed assault / bombing attack by ten 
terrorists who came by sea. The attacks, which lasted until 29 
November, killed at least 173 people and wounded at least 308 
when hotels, a Jewish center, train station, cafi, and hospital 
were targeted by the ten assailants. Mumbai has been the scene 
of other terrorist attacks such as on 11 July 2006 when another 
group of terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba detonated seven 
improvised explosive devices on Mumbai's Western Railway Line 
during the evening commute killing 183 people. In September 
2006, three improvised explosive devices detonated in a market 
area of Malegaon, India (approximately 300-400 kilometers 
northeast of Mumbai). American citizens should exercise 
vigilance when in the vicinity of government installations, 
visiting tourist sites, or attending public events in Mumbai. 
People should be aware of their surroundings and be alert for 
unattended bags or packages in these areas. 
 
¶B. (U) Civil Unrest:  Mumbai has experienced several large 
demonstrations in recent years but none have recently occurred 
near U.S. Government properties. On March 2, 2006 over 250,000 
people participated in an anti-American demonstration while 
President Bush visited India. While the speakers and crowd 
voiced dissatisfaction with a series of US Government policies, 
organizers extolled the participants to leave the demonstration 
peacefully and we received no reports of attacks against U.S. 
Government facilities or American businesses in the area around 
the protest site. The Mumbai Police professionally handles large 
demonstrations when they have advanced notification and can 
adequately plan for the event.  The city also experiences 
spontaneous demonstrations/incidents of violence that can 
disrupt traffic flow in the city as well as cause damage to 
property before the Police can respond. An example of this 
phenomenon would be the 30 November 2006 Dalit riots that 
erupted across Maharashtra State. Another concern in the area of 
civil unrest is when political groups such as the Shiv Sena, a 
far-right political party based on Hindu nationalism resort to 
political violence to make a point or protest labor issues. In 
January 2009 over 300 Shiv Sena members vandalized the Hotel 
Intercontinental Grand to protest the sacking of 21 hotel 
employees. This protest caused minor injuries and thousands of 
dollars in damage to the hotel lobby. 
 
¶4.  (U) Post Specific Concerns: 
 
(U) Floods: Flooding during the Monsoon Season is an area of 
great concern in Mumbai.  During July and August of 2005, in 
excess of 1,000 people died during the unprecedented flooding 
that occurred in the city. Flooding is exacerbated by inadequate 
drainage, clogged storm sewers, and explosive city growth. The 
monsoon season which lasts from June through September is the 
period of greatest concern. The most problematic flooding 
happens when a high volume rain event coincides with high tide. 
At this point there is no outlet for the rains and flooding 
commences. 
 
¶5.  (U) Police Response: Police response in the city of Mumbai 
is fair. The Mumbai Police do an effective job managing large 
scale protests, and are responsive to security requests.  For 
American Citizens needing immediate Police assistance please 
call the Police Helpline by dialing 100 from any phone. Further 
information on the Mumbai Police can be found at 
http://www.mumbaipolice.org. If you have been detained by the 
Police please contact the Consulate's American Citizen Services 
Unit at 91-22-2363-3611, extensions 4306/4134/4237 or via email 
at mumbaiacs@state.gov. 
 
¶6.  (U) Medical Emergencies:  Emergency medical services in 
Mumbai are extremely limited. Ambulances are poorly equipped and 
traffic congestion could prevent an individual from making it to 
a hospital within the golden hour of trauma window.  Emergency 
medicine/trauma care is still in its infancy, but steps are 
being made to improve this capability. Traffic congestion still 
plays the largest role in preventing immediate access to 
definitive care. 
 
¶A. (U) Mumbai Hospitals and Ambulance listing can be found at 
the following website: 
http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/hospitals.html. 
 
¶B. (U) Air Ambulance Services: International SOS-Pacific 
Evacuation Team flies out of Singapore and can be contacted at 
+65-6338-9277. Private air ambulance service in Mumbai is also 
provided by Indian Aero-Medical Services Private Ltd. Local 
contact numbers are 98200-43432, 98210-21255, or 98213-27232. 
 
¶7.  (U) Travel Precautions: Travelers must take the usual 
security precautions when visiting Mumbai. Caution should be 
taken when in the high poverty areas of the city. In addition we 
recommend that travelers avoid the Red Light district of 
Kamathipura. Local press reports indicate an extraordinarily 
high HIV rate among local sex workers. Travelers should exercise 
caution around large public celebrations like New Year's 
celebrations in Mumbai. In the last two years female American 
citizens have been attacked and by local youths at these 
celebrations. It should be noted there are severe penalties for 
drug related crimes which apply to both citizens and foreigners 
alike. In addition to basic security precautions, we remind all 
visitors not to take any pictures of Indian Government 
facilities, train stations, airports, power plants, or other key 
sites receiving protection from the Government of India. 
 
¶8.  (U) Further information: the Consulate is located in the 
Breach Candy section of Mumbai. The address is 78 Bhulabhai 
Desai Road, Mumbai 400 026. Taxi drivers may know the name of 
the street under the earlier name, Warden Road. The 24-hour 
telephone number is (91) (22) 2363-3611 and the fax number is 
 
(91) (22) 2363-0350. The Consular Section, Political/Economic 
Section, the Consulate Duty Officer and the Regional Security 
Officer (RSO) can be contacted through the main consulate 
telephone number.  For any additional information please visit 
the American Consulate General Mumbai website at 
http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov. 
 
¶9.  (U) For information on the Mumbai Regional Chapter of the 
Indian Overseas Security Advisory Country Council please contact 
the Regional Security Office at 91-22-2363-3611, visit the 
Regional Chapter's Website at http://mumbai.osac.gov/ or send us 
an email at mumbaiosac@state.gov . 
 
 
FOLMSBEE