Attack on Mumbai

10.15 p.m.
I was finishing up at work when I first heard about the attacks. A co-worker received a call informing him that his brother had been shot at in Colaba. It was not clear then how he got shot, speculation was rife then that maybe it was some gang war and innocent people are getting injured in the cross fire. As far as I know he worked at one of the poshest shops in the poshest hotel in town. He was not the kind to go walking in streets frequented by the gangland baddies. My colleague and I left the office both praying that his brother has received a mere flesh wound.

11.00 p.m.
I reached home and find my mom glued to the television, which was relaying the following news items:-
1) The Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) under attack.
2) The Taj Hotel under attack
3) The Oberoi Trident Hotel under attack
4) Cama Hospital under attack
5) A taxicab blow to bits in suburban Vile Parle
... the gory pictures splashed on all the news channels...Cameramen panning the entire area held hostage by the terrorists...TV Correspondents talking nineteen to a dozen

11.30 p.m. ish
As we watch, fresh developments take place...Terrorists hijack a police vehicle in a desperate attempt to escape from CST... when the van reaches the area teeming with the police and newspaper crews...the open fire at point blank...injuring many.

12.00 a.m.
Reports come in that there are two terrorists aged around 20-22 years (I am shocked and appalled, such young boys who should be in college, at the most spraying graffiti on the walls not spraying bullets into random strangers)... The terrorists walk in to the Oberoi Trident and ask all except foreigners to leave and take about 40 foreigners hostage. Five of the hostages escape and tell the media about these developments.

12.30 a.m.
My mind is still reeling from the shock as I try to go to sleep.

Today Morning

6.00 a.m.
My sister leaves for work (she supports the Singapore region, hence needs to be in office before 6.30 a.m.)

6.30 a.m.
My neighbour knocks on our door to inquire whether my sister has left for work, urging us not to send her to office since there are terror attacks on Mumbai. We inform her that she has already left...

7.30 a.m.
The newspaper arrives, "IT'S WAR ON MUMBAI" the headline screams
1) 8 places attacked,
2) 78 killed,
3) 900 injured,
4) Top police officers die in the firing
- Vijay Salaskar -Celebrated Encounter Specialist
- Hemant Karkare - Anti Terrorism Squad Chief
5) Disturbing photographs
- photographs of the two terrorists looking at the police and newspaper men,
- a gun wielding terrorist - the young man actually appears to be grinning,
- charred remains of the taxicab,
- a policeman giving water to a child that is covered in blood...

8.30 a.m.
I am still trying to work up the courage to switch on the television as I know that the images and news on TV will be far worse than what is reported in the newspapers. Finally I switch it on, the first image that appears is of the area under the dome of the Taj Mahal Hotel engulfed in flames, the Fire Brigade is trying to bring the inferno under control. Firing still continuing... National Security guards, Black Cat commandos called in and have taken up their positions...

9.00 a.m.
Some of the people who were trapped at the Taj Mahal Hotel freed and taken to safety...reports that the NSE and BSE to remain closed on account of the terror attacks...reports come in that the sea route was taken by the terrorist to get into Mumbai....

10.00 a.m.
This has set me thinking...is this a message...a crude joke by the terrorists...that whilst the Indian Navy is protecting ships in the Gulf of Aden our own waters and shores are not safe... the terrorists have calmly and brazenly sailed into the heart of our financial capital and taken the city to ransom...all I hope for is that this situation is over before the day is out!!!

More later...I have to get ready to go to office...this is my response to the terrorists, we Mumbaikars may be down but we will never be out!!!