Mumbai Terror Attacks Aftermath: City Adjusts to a New World

By Sanjay Jha in Mumbai

Life in India’s financial and entertainment capital Mumbai is slowly limping back to normal after witnessing the worst act of carnage in recent time. Even though the country’s topmost officials dealing with internal security have resigned, Mumbai’s residents and people elsewhere in the country are shocked and anguished with the Indian government’s handling of the terror attacks.

The Healing in Mumbai Begins

Nearly two days after Mumbai’s war on terror concluded, the sense of being under attack that had shrouded its citizens gave way to festivities. And the city’s offices and other establishments opened again on Monday. Being a holiday on Sunday, the city was shut.

Onlookers thronged the attack sites. People from the city's different parts had descended on the attack sites, which became the new tourist attractions. These locations were already famous due to their heritage status but after the attacks they have become the most famous tourist spots for hundreds of gawking Mumbai citizens and even foreign tourists visiting the city. Families tagging children, street urchins and curious bystanders cracked jokes while jostling each other to get a glimpse of the terror-struck structures.

A Sense of Normalcy Returns After the Terror

City residents left home as usual for schools, offices or other business. Private and public vehicles including buses, trains, auto rickshaws and taxis are plying normally on the roads Monday morning. The Mumbai stock market started functioning normally although indices were subdued.

Road-blocks have been set up in front of all the attack sites with crowds cramming around on Saturday and Sunday, when the final encounter ended. Vehicles are not allowed to get close to the Oberoi Trident Hotel and Nariman House where roadblocks were set up with police guarding around.

People are busy snapping pictures and crowds had gathered to watch the opening of Leopold cafes but after opening for few minutes authorities shut it down on Sunday.

Mumbai’s famed Bhelpuri and Vada Pao vendors returned to the streets and on beaches as life in Mumbai began picking up the pieces after nearly 60 hours of gun battles. Mumbai is the base for India’s huge film industry which produced close to 300 films a year and the filming of various movies and television series has also resumed.

Mumbai Mourns Its Dead and Looks to Lay Blame

The city is now busy holding funerals and remembering those who were killed. Peace marches and candle lighting ceremonies took place at the terror sites.  Despite normalcy returning the shadow of the terror attack in India’s biggest metropolis is still hanging over and people are scared.

The Mumbai Police remained in charge at the Taj Hotel near the Gateway of India, the nearby Oberoi Hotel and the Nariman House Jewish centre - places the terrorists seized and where they killed people at will besides holding hostages.

In the meantime the blame game has started and the country’s top security official has resigned. India’s treasury secretary has been made the new home secretary and the prime minister has retained the treasury department.