Mumbai Blast Report: Witnesses describe blasts that preceded Mumbai Attacks

by jjenet | November 26, 2008 at 09:20 pm

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Mumbai Blast Report: Witnesses describe blasts that preceded Mumbai Attacks

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Gautam Patel was staying in the Trident Hotel, which is adjacent to the Oberoi Hotel, when the attacks began:

I was up on the 11th floor and while I was on a conference call, I heard two large noises, and they sounded like thuds from within the room, and that's when we realized that there was something serious happening.

When I heard the two thuds, that's when I looked out window and onto my left I could see the Oberoi Hotel -- there was a restaurant in the Oberoi Hotel -- which was under flames.

We left our room, walked down the fire exit, the hotel staff met us down at the bottom of hotel and put us into large banquet hall where we saw about 150 to 200 people. The lights were out, so we were just told to huddle there until we heard further.

We stayed there for about one hour, that's when we heard another large two bangs. We couldn't tell if they were from outside or within the hotel, then we heard some gunfire. Twenty, 30 minutes past that, one of the senior advisers of the hotel mentioned we would be escorted to the back of the hotel, put into groups of 10 people and told to run to the neighboring cinema hall, where we would be safe.

I think most of the activity was happening in the lobby. People were talking, rumoring about the fact that terrorists were in the hotel, so there was a search by room-to-room, so I think the activity was happening in the hotel and the front of the hotel.

Terrorists Blast: Mumbai Attack

More than 80 people are dead after terrorists used grenades and automatic weapons to attack crowds at hotels, a restaurant and train station in Mumbai, India.

The Chief Minister of Maharashtra state said the situation was not yet contained as commando units attempted to wrest back control of two luxury hotels, where scores of westerners are believed to being held hostage.

Parts of Mumbai remained under siege, with police and gunmen exchanging gunfire at the Taj Mahal and Oberoi Trident hotels.

"The situation is still not under control and we are trying to flush out any more terrorists hiding inside the two hotels," said Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Gunfire and explosions were heard at the landmark Taj Mahal hotel and thick plumes of smoke rose from the building, witnesses said.

There were also explosions at the Oberoi hotel and firing at a hospital where gunmen were surrounded.

"The terrorists are throwing grenades at us from the rooftop of the Taj and trying to stop us from moving in," police Inspector Ashok Patil said.

Police said at least 250 people were wounded in the attacks, but some reports say up to 900 were hurt in the coordinated attacks, which also targeted a railway station, hospitals, the main railway station and airport.

The news agency quoted police as saying that 10 people were killed and more than 30 people injured in gunfire at the main Chhatrapati Shivaji railway station.

Three staff were shot dead in a separate shooting incident at the luxury Taj Mahal hotel in nearby Colaba district, PTI said.

Another three people died in what they described as a "bomb blast" in a taxi in the southeast of the city.

Maharashtra state police chief A.N. Roy was quoted as saying that "at least two terrorists" were holed up inside the top-end Trident hotel in the neighbouring Nariman Point business district.

Dazed survivors, blood on their faces, stared blankly at the explosion sites, some trying desperately to speak to their families on mobile telephones held by young men who came rushing from neighbourhood buildings. All this while it kept raining all over the city, making the situation much more grim and difficult.

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Kamat R.M. (not verified)

at 22:36 on November 26th, 2008

What to comment and what to say ???

It is very sad and unfortunate.

curiousguy (not verified)

at 11:30 on November 27th, 2008

shame on imf who still believes in pak cry over money but they have money to fund terriost..shame on you IMF ..................

curiousguy (not verified)

at 11:34 on November 27th, 2008

indians all over the world should support all out its been high time india is bearing the pak terror why are all the terriost from pak whats the gov doing.....if we fear war every indian would be fearing for their death any which ways .

venky (not verified)

at 23:27 on November 26th, 2008

why does the Security system gets relaxed once the tension cools off ?

this is the biggest problem we are facing , during the attack happens a RED ALERT goes throuhgh out the country , After few days once things gets cooling off , security system gets cools down . Does our intelligence group are not sharp than isreals .

Vijaya Lakshmi (not verified)

at 00:33 on November 27th, 2008

What is happening to India. The thought that is going through my mind is a war is taking place in the center of India and we are helpless to do anything about it. Why are we always waiting for terrorists to strike and then take action. Even if we kill one, two, three or all the terrorists involved in such dastardly act, we cannot bring back the people who are innocent and dead in this tragedy nor can we repair the damage that it has caused to tourism industry, and India's image as a whole in front of whole world. There should be an effort, a body, an organization or whatever it is, which should work just for protecting India from terrorists. The terrorists and terrorist oraginaztions should be taught such a lesson that they should cower even before thinking of carrying any terrorist attack in India leave alone carrying one. All the likeminded citizens should form a body and make plans and give suggestions as to how to prevent terrorists from carrying out their dastardly attacks. This should start from grass root level and spread all over the country. Let us not expect government to do every thing and take action and then blame governament if they fail to do so. What is governament but for us. Each and every area can have a terror prevention squad, which will be responsible to some higher up in either administrative service or police service and they in turn are answerable to some other body who is formed to prevent terrorism, that way all the concerned are protected from terror acts and nobody can say that the governament did not do anything to prevent these dastardly acts.

Ajay Bauskar (not verified)

at 06:32 on November 27th, 2008

iTS SHAMEFUL FOR iNDIAN ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE INDIA

s.kamal khan (not verified)

at 03:09 on December 2nd, 2008

we are as sad as any ibdian could, becasue it is not the war between india and pakistan, but it is international game. Any Pakistani never feel happy when a poor man like him is dead leaving his widow and orphen children alone in this cruel world.

we feel sorry for all that have been killing in all indo pak and afghan region, for because of future fears.

No True muslim can do that. plz recognize your/our enemy, and don't let him to play with our innocent lives.

reshmi

at 03:53 on December 2nd, 2008

kamal, i understand your feelings. no religion teaches to kill.

INDIAN CITIZEN (not verified)

at 04:33 on December 3rd, 2008

Nowadays Terror in India has become like the laboratory of the terrorist who try their new tricks on our INNOCENTPEOPLE. We the citizens are kind to all the types of people in the world.

WAKE UP INDIANS.!!!! When are the authourities going come out of their cocoon of Laziness, Ignorance .

WHY DON'T THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT INDIA AND ITS DEVELOPMENT

After all this tragedy.......Our INDIAN PRESIDENT is not yet bothered to assure that things are not giong to be the same but will change..!

We have the AMERICAN PRESIDENT to comment onthis mishap.., We have the PAKISTAN to comment BUT NOT THE INDIAN PRESIDENT. What is this called as??? Let us atleast get to our senses and follow "Educate, Unite and Agitate ".....Jago India Jago.....

Thank you,

young citizen of India JAI HIND....!!!!

azzayindia

at 07:51 on January 15th, 2009

indians can never wake up because they are to selfish and thisnk of themselves as individuals only.

patriotic mumbaikar (not verified)

at 07:04 on January 17th, 2009

I definitely dont think so !!if u know, they all gathered at the agteway to light candles for the victims .That proves to som extent that they do care and have the courtesy to salute and respect the brave men who risked their lives for others.I LUV INDIA FOR THIS SPIRIT !!