I think blockchain.info is under attack, see the thread here https://bt.irlbtc.com/view/278017.0

Indeed it seems they are struggling for the last days....  

FYI to others who come here worrying and wondering:  the bitcoin network where transactions are stored and blocks are added exists completely independently from all websites including blockchain.info.  So this problem is local to their web service and has no effect other than preventing you from getting up to the instant data from their website.

Let the bitcoins flow!!!  Your bitcoin client will still work fine at sending funds, counting confirmations and what not.

Yes, I realize that blockchain.info and the bitcoin network are completely separate entities. Is there any alternative to blockchain.info, where I could check how the bitcoin network is doing?

Yes.
https://blockexplorer.com/

Possible but not helpful for average users.  https://blockexplorer.com/ is a fine backup for  https://blockchain.info.

QtExplorer

Why don't you trying concocting a bundle of Abe, LAMP and Python?

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Abe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LAMP_(software_bundle)

You could call it ALP. Or just include mysql and call it AMP.

But blockchain has nothing to do with the network

And to the people scared about their keys, they can't be stolen. Just have a backup in case blockchain never comes back.

Also ddos protection is expensive, like 10k+ per month
Blockchain needs to start charging us