President A P J Abdul Kalam will lead the city in observing silence for two minutes on July 18 as a mark of respect to victims of the serial bomb blasts that rocked the metropolis on Tuesday, officials said in Mumbai on Sunday.

The silence will be observed from 6.25 pm and Kalam will lead the citizens in paying homage to the 200 people who died in the terror attacks, Chief Protocol Official Shilendra Bijur told PTI. At 6.24 pm, there will be a siren when the entire city will come to a halt. There will be another siren at 6.27 pm to end the silence, he said.

This is the first time that Maharashtra has taken a decision to pay respect to the victims of a terror attack. Otherwise, the siren is blown in the city only on January 30 to pay homage to the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi. Kalam, who will be on a two-day visit to the city, will also place a wreath at Mahim railway station, Bijur said.

On Monday, Kalam will visit Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and spend about 45 minutes with young scientists and engineers there. On Tuesday, he will attend a function at Mumbai University, which is celebrating its 150th year.

Later, Kalam will attend the centenary celebration of the Indian Merchants Chambers at the National Centre of Performing Arts and visit the newly constructed pediatric ward of the Asian Heart Institute at Bandra-Kurla Complex, Raj Bhavan officials said.