Wow, this is horrible.

V, we are thinking of you mate. Hope you stay safe and things improve soon.

Thanks, guys.

I am quite some distance away from all that action, but yes, the whole country is on Red Alert right now.

The Govt is preparing for another possible bigger and comprehensive attack on all the major cities and centres right now, and planes have been kept on standby for all the prominent leaders to be transported to a safe location, should there be any attack on Delhi, the capital.


Latest News (all times in IST...it is now 5 44 PM)

05:31 PM: Commandos are in NCPA apartments across the road from Trident hotel, and firing at the terrorists, police officers said.

05: 26 PM: Gunshots have been heard from inside Oberoi hotel where terrorists are holding around 35 people hostage.

05:08 PM: IAF keeps seven transport aircraft and one VVIP aircraft on standby in Delhi for airlifting troops and leaders at short notice.

05:05 PM: Grenade sound could be heard from Nariman House building. The residents of Prem Bhavan, next door, have moved out. Nariman House area wears a deserted look.

04:55 PM: About 18 to 20 rounds of gunfire has been reported from Trident Hotel.

04:45 PM: Lot more commandos have arrived outside Nariman House. A team of commandos is scaling the building. Helicopters overhead are providing cover.

04:25 PM: Loud explosion has been heard outside Taj Hotel.

03:54 PM: Third grenade blast has been reported from the Trident Hotel (Oberoi).

03:15 PM: Two grenade blasts have been heard from Trident hotel.

02:54 PM: Grenade blast has been reported from Nariman House in south Mumbai, where six terrorists are holed up. One terrorist had been gunned down earlier.

02:33 PM: Navy helicopters are chasing a Vietnamese registered ship, MV Alpha, which is believed to have dropped terrorists near Bombay. Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta is closely monitoring the situation.

Ismail, a Punjabi from Faridkot in Pakistan, was arrested by the Mumbai police on Wednesday night during the terrorist attacks.

Police sources said Ismail is giving his interrogators the complete story of how the sensational terror operation was planned and executed.

He has told the Mumbai police that he has been trained by the Pakistan-based Lashkar e Tayiba, said police sources, giving chilling details of the most daring terror attack on India that has so far killed more than 101 people -- and the horror story is not over yet.


The Indian Navy which intercepted and boarded the MV Alpha, a Vietnamese registered ship, let off the ship after questioning the crew and checking the ship's papers, which were found to be in order.

"The ship that was intercepted has been searched in accordance with international laws. Its papers were found in order and nothing suspicous was found," said Captain Nambiar, PRO Defence, Mumbai.

The ship was travelling on the Panama route.


In a televised address to the nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that those behind the terror attack in Mumbai were from outside India.

He promised that: "We will take the strongest possible action. We'll take a number of measures to strengthen our security forces."

He also said the National Security Act will be enforced so that terrorists cannot escape the clutches of law. A Federal Investigation Authority will be set up to fight terror in a co-ordinated manner, he added.

He said India will take up with neighbouring country the use of their territory to launch attacks against the country.

The chief landmarks which were targetted by the terrorists:


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...i/TajHotel.jpg

(Taj Intercontinental Hotel on the left, Gateway of India on the right)

The terrorists selected Mumbai's landmark locations as venues for their murderous mayhem. These prominent and beloved Mumbai spots are part of the city's heritage, sites that Mumbaikars are extremely proud of.

'The Taj' means you are referring to that beautiful, 105-year-old hotel opposite the Gateway of India. There are other Taj properties in Mumbai, but the Taj has always meant that iconic building which is as much a symbol of the city as the imposing Gateway.

It stands proudly on Apollo Bunder -- Bunder meaning harbour -- promenade, which is a part of colonial Mumbai. It is a popular spot for walkers and sightseers. If you have been a visitor to Mumbai, this is a part of the city you would probably have visited first.

The old Taj, with its sweeping staircase and classic wood work, is not surprisingly one of the country's most expensive hotels. The Sea Lounge, its cherished cafe, overlooks the sail boats in the harbour and is known for its view as much for its trademark fare. Many Mumbaikars wept when they saw the dome of the Taj go up in flames early on Thursday morning.


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1.../VTstation.jpg


It has been years since this treasure of Mumbai was renamed Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus after the great Maratha monarch, but it has remained VT (for Victoria Terminus) for many Mumbaikars.

The Central Railways's main terminus has remained the symbol of Mumbai buzz, where millions hop off onto its platforms every day. It is also been a snapshot of the city of dreams as captured in Hindi films with scenes of outsiders entering the city and building their lives here, thus adding to the charisma and sense of possibility that Mumbai offers.

One of Mumbai's most beautiful buildings -- completed in 1888 -- flagged off India's first train 155 years ago and is at the heart of the city's heritage quarter.

On a Sunday morning, if you stand across the street from this marvel, you can gaze at it for hours, such is its unique beauty. It was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 2004. Nothing in Mumbai has been able to match up to the grandeur of this imposing work of art.


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...eopoldCafe.jpg


Cafe Leopold, the thriving, throbbing pub on chic Colaba Causeway is a popular hangout for locals and foreigners alike.

Established in 1871, Leopold is one of Mumbai's all time favourite pubs, a place cool enough for all sorts of people. You can see college students, single women enjoying a beer and diners having a good time at the cafe's closely placed tables at all times of the day.

Newer shops and eating places may have sprung up by the dozens on the Causeway, but Leos, as Mumbai call the bistro, has stood the test of time.


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...beroiHotel.jpg


At the extreme end of Marine Drive, the city's chimeric promenade, by the Arabian Sea stands the Oberoi Hotel.

There was a time the Taj and the Oberoi were really the only two five star hotels in town. Its old building was called the 'Old Oberoi' while the newer part was simply called the 'new Oberoi'. A couple of years ago, the old Oberoi was rebranded as the Trident, and remains a prominent venue for business and corporate conferences in South Mumbai.

It has a fantastic view of the ocean and both its buildings are connected by a short walk from within the hotels. It is the only Oberoi property in Mumbai and remains the most sought after venue for the city's corporate world.


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...maHospital.jpg


Of all the landmarks selected by the cowardly terrorists, the Cama hospital is comparatively lesser known than the other sites. It is an old colonial building situated on a leafy promenade, flanked by St Xavier's College and the Esplanade Court.

It dates back to 1886 and was refurbished a few years ago. It is a hospital for women and children.

The terrorists stormed into the hospital on Wednesday night and started firing incessantly at the patients, killing several of them, before holing up in the upper floors and warding off police attempts at rescuing the remaining patients and hospital staff.

This is so sad to hear about...my thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.

Just to give you folks an idea about my city's location...here is a road map of western-central India...

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...i/location.jpg


This is a map of Mumbai and its affected areas...

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...navi/27kbk.jpg



The Indian Navy and Coast Guard on Thursday pressed into service warships and surveillance aircraft to scour the high seas in and around Mumbai to look for 'Mother Ship' which could have ferried the terrorists who carried out attacks in this metropolis.

"The Naval and Coast Guards ships have since this morning intercepted and checked antecedents of all the vessels operating or moored around the metropolis," Vice-admiral J S Bedi, Flag Officer Commanding in Chief Western Naval Command said in Mumbai.

The surveillance of large areas of the Arabian Sea is still on, Bedi said as he disclosed that two naval warships along with vessels from the Coast Guard, helicopter and

Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft were involved in the massive sea-hunt.

These comments come in the wake of eye-witnesses saying they had seen young men in their early twenties carrying heavy rucksacks disgorge from high speed boats off the Gateway of India.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said that the terrorists got ashore in South Mumbai using boats.

"We have been boarding a number of vessels and so far we have found that most of the ships searched has valid papers," the Admiral told NDTV.

His clarifications came as earlier reports has said that naval warships were in hot pursuit of a suspicious looking vessel which could have disgorged these terrorists near the Mumbai coast.

"The information regarding the terrorists having come by boat or sea is still not authenticated," Bedi said.

He said any information if state authorities had about the terrorists taking the sea route had not been shared with the navy.

Bedi said that the state chief secretary had got in touch with him around mid-night to ask for deployment of specialised Marcos commandos against the terrorists.

He said two units of Marcos which had been withdrawn after day-break had been re-deployed to take part in the final assault.



Rijad Mehad, an official of Jordanian Airlines who was present at the Oberoi Hotel said he was rushing back home.

"Three people came into the hotel and started shooting indiscriminately in the lobby. I was taken aback and had no idea what to do and why they were firing. I just ducked but I injured my head in the melee. I saw eight people dying in front of me," said Mehad.

Asked if he saw any of the terrorists, he said, "I could not see them because they were firing indiscriminately and at that time nothing strikes you but the fact that you have to duck and lie on ground to save your life."

Veronica Murphy, a British citizen, said, "I was lucky as I was only 100 metres away from the firing incident at Leopold Cafe in Colaba last night. I was on the periphery and I must tell you that Indians were very protective towards me and they ensured that we don't get hurt in any way."

Asked will she leave India, Murphy said, "No way. I am taking a train to south India tomorrow and I am not scared. Terrorism is everywhere in the world and even England was affected by that. You cannot allow these terrorists to rule and ruin your life. I will not allow that to happen."



LATEST UPDATE :- The group leader, or so-called mastermind of this entire terrorist attack, has been murdered by his own men. His body has been recovered by the NSG commandos, and the terrorists have escaped the spot. Intelligence officials are suspecting the entire group was actually a sort of "suicide squad", whose only mission was to destroy, terrorise and ultimately commit suicide/die.

More updates when I get back on.

About 200 people are still trapped inside Trident (Oberoi) hotel in Mumbai and five to six staff members of the luxury hotel have been killed in the night-long terror siege.

"Altogether there would be around 200 people inside the Oberoi complex in Mumbai. We believe that not less than 100 people are at the Oberoi side and not less than 100 people inside the Trident side," Vice Chairman of Oberoi Hotels, S S Mukherjee, told NDTV.

The plush hotel is currently surrounded by army and National Security Guards commandos in order to launch an offensive to flush out the holed-up terrorists and rescue hostages.

"We have definite information that the casualty of our staff is about five-six," he said.

Putting last night's occupancy at the hotel around 375-385, Mukherjee said the terrorists "have not gone down the basement and have only gone to the upper floors".

The battle between terrorists and the security forces is likely to continue till mid-night or even till Friday as the terrorists are just unwilling to give up.

They fire at policemen and army commandos whenever they try to get close to them.

At 5 pm, one of the security personnel came under fire when he attempted to enter the Trident (formerly Oberoi) Hotel from the back door. The intensity of fire was so huge that people standing nearly 500 metres away from site panicked.

The commandos now have taken positions at the NCPA building opposite the hotel and are firing from there. They seem to be doing so to divert the attention of the terrorists and allow as many commandos to get inside the hotel. The strategy seems to be to try and make the terrorists expend their ammunition. Unfortunately, no one knows how well equipped the terrorists are and how much ammunition they have.

Another hindrance for commandos is the fact that they don't know how many terrorists are holed up in the hotel.

Meanwhile, guests trapped in the hotel just don't know what to do. If they come out they risk getting caught in the cross-fire. However some are taking the risk and coming out with the help of commandos who have entered the hotel. But since morning not more than a dozen people have came out.

One can see many guests waving from their windows to passersby and journalists who have camped since last night.


UPDATE: As I type this, twin blasts have been reported from behind the Oberoi hotel, and the entire backside of the hotel is engulfed in huge flames.

What horrible news. I'm getting that same sinking feeling I got after 9/11.

My thoughts are with you V and the people of India. And what a beautiful country it is.

I was going to make a Happy Thanksgiving thread.....but out of respect ...I won't.

Thanks, bud.

But TG is a wonderful occasion to celebrate peace, love and goodwill, so please go ahead and do so. :)


Latest News (all times in IST)... (the time now is 9 08 PM)


09:10 PM: Five more foreigners have been evacuated from Hotel Trident.

The operation at Hotel Taj is reportedly over. All terrorists at Taj Hotel have been killed by the security personnel. The situation is under control.

At Nariman House, commandos have started entering the building as the offensive against the terrorists escalates.

08:30 PM: Reports from the Taj Hotel say that massive explosions are taking place inside the hotel.

A major fire has broken out at the Trident Hotel. The 13th and 14th floors of the hotel are on fire.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has left for Mumbai, in the wake of the terror attack.

The ongoing operations against terrorists in three places were in their final stages and would be over soon, says Maharashtra Director General of Police A N Roy.

Major General R K Hooda, General Officer Commanding, Maharashtra area, said that the Army and other security agencies had completed the first round of room-to-room combing at the Taj Mahal Hotel. But he said the operation was not yet over and there may still be terrorists holed up inside the hotel.

A huge convoy of army trucks has reached Nariman House. A BEST van can also be seen in the vicinity, and it might be there to cut off the power supply to the building. Two Israeli families have been reportedly held hostage in Nariman House.

08:00 PM: The Taj Hotel's General Manager's wife and three children have been reportedly killed in the attack.

The locals are distributing biscuits to the security personnel deployed at the Nariman House. An ambulance, from Saifee Hospital, is distributing water.

The chief of the Special Action Group has arrived.

07:49 PM: This road in the heart of Mumbai's tourist district looks worse than a scene from Kashmir. The range of forces here is incredible. The deployed personnel are from the NSG, RAF and Black Cats, apart from the city's police.

The city hadn't witnessed such a tight security blanket even during the infamous Mumbai riots.

06:07 PM: 70 more people have been evacuated from Trident.

05:45 PM: Lashkar-e-Tayiba has denied involvement in the terrorist attacks in Mumbai. Death toll in Mumbai terror attacks 101; 288 injured, six of them critically, says Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.



Security forces recovered 40 bodies in the first four floors of the six-storeyed Taj Hotel. National Security Guard sources add that four fidayeen (suicide bombers) have been killed in the assault.

National Security Guard commandos and personnel of the Mumbai Police are carrying out systematical floor-to-floor cleaning up operations. Most of the hotel has been sanitised by now.

The terrorists had burst into lobby of the hotel last night from four places with all guns blazing. They first shot at three female receptionists manning the front desk. They then went into the hotel.

NSG sources said the fidayeen made an attempt to escape last night, but retreated when they saw the NSG approaching. The threw grenades at the commandos.

Director General of Police A N Roy said 15 police personnel, including officers, have been killed in the operations. Twenty five police personnel have been injured.

R K Krishna Kumar, vice chairman, Indian Hotels, which owns the under-attack Hotel Taj in South Mumbai, told a television channel said it is tough to say when the operation would get over.

Kumar said they have not been able to able to determine exact casualty figures but said it could be in the region of 50�60 people, adding that the army now has control of the hotel. "The first attack took place on the heritage wing of the hotel and then on the tower block," he said. Kumar added that the family of the hotel's senior management was caught in the fire, and some of the hotel's staff including five chefs had lost their lives.

Philip Badje, eyewitness, tells his account to CBS News...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDt8e3YuWOk