Mumbai Blast Report: Witnesses describe blasts that preceded Mumbai Attacks

uploaded by jjenet November 26, 2008 at 09:21 pm
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Mumbai Blast Report: Witnesses describe blasts that preceded Mumbai Attacks by jjenet
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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Title: Mumbai Blast Report: Witnesses describe blasts that preceded Mumbai Attacks
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Created: Wed, 11/26/2008 - 9:21pm
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Sambasivam

India and its citizens faced the irresponsibility of the stupid politicians. They have not only spoilt india with their corruption and divide and rule policy,now they have handed over the rights to do worse things on to the terrorists.

Every single soul who lost their lives fighting so far have in no way been given their due respect. The elite group in this country spends billions on just securing themselves and their family,once a politician or a public figure comes to public life,he or she cannot value his or her life when the people's lives are at stake.

The Muslim community,"The email sent by the terrorists states that the hindu's have taken away all their rights in terms of education. The muslim community "Touch your heart and tell India-Is it your age old custom that blocks your women and girl children not to be sent to schools or is it the other communities in the rest of India?

The muslims in India "Are you going to communicate to the muslims in the rest of the world that you dont require their assistance in terms of weapons and money and that India provides you the best in terms of living and education and are you going to stop this terrorism. The Onus and responsibility lies on every citizen in India and the politicians and muslim community and hindu and christian community at large.




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