Terror Attack in Mumbai

Watching tv right now. Mumbai is under attack once again. Bombs and AK-47's too. 25 people already killed and who knows what the body count will be once the night is out.

This is shit.

Innocent people should not be in danger this way. It's just not right. And yet it happens, again and again. And the police... ok, I'd be the first to admit that I don't normally appreciate the normal-cop-on-the-road. But I have to say, I can't imagine risking your life the way they do, just for a paltry salary each month. And don't tell me they are all desh-bhakts. I know it's just a job to them, but they take it so seriously! It's a job and they do it, even if it costs them their life.

Poor Mumbai. If not being burned by terrorists from outside, it's being terrorised by self-proclaimed dictators from within. The ultimate loser is the common man.

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00:47 now and it's worse than ever. I don't know if this is really live but there was this loud blast and it appears that there was an explosion at the Taj. I don't know what's worse, Indians being killed, or foreigners on vacation losing their lives for the folly of choosing India as their destination.

00:54 now and 4 terrorists have been captured apparently. Finally, score one for the good guys.

1:22 am now and 60 confirmed dead. I don't want to go to sleep. It seems indecent to sleep peacefully in my bed when people are being killed. This is the first time I've seen an attack like this. Scene by scene. Usually the news starts after the event. This is horrible. I can't imagine having to live through a war.

A colleague of mine wrote a poem about peace today. Something that we seem to be running out off.

1:42 am and they keep listing off all the cops who've died tonight.

1:50 am now and all my friends are safe. There was one guy I've been trying to get in touch with cos he's one of those people who head towards trouble instead of away, but he's just reached home so I can stop worrying about him.

1:53 am and the fire that started in the Taj on the top floor of the Heritage wing, has now spread to 3 rooms.

1:55 am now. A picture of one of the terrorists on the tv. Apparently at least one of the cameras put up by the city was working.

1:59 am. The army has entered this battle. (It's joined the police at the Trident hotel.) Doesn't that make this a war of sorts?

2:50 am. Some people came out of the Taj and now the channels are interviewing them. Just watched an interview with a Korean guy who was in the new wing which has now been evacuated. His wife is still a hostage in the old wing. In his position I'd have probably slapped any tv interviewer who asked me questions at such a time.

2:58 am. The press conferences have started. Some Chief Information Officer of I know not what just said 78 are dead. Last seen the poor guy was surrounded by eager journalists.

3:00 am. The Taj and the Trident Oberoi encounters are still on. The channels have fallen back on previous footage as the action has now moved indoors and they don't really have a clue what's happening there.

3:03 am. The politicians speeches have started. Thats what every tragedy comes down to in the end. Speeches and conferences.

I just had a funny thought. Usually when a terrorist attack happens the date goes down in history. For eg. 7/11 and 9/11. Well what date is going to get the dubious honour of representing this attack? It started on the 26th and will probably end today, the 27th.

3:08 am. 9 terrorists arrested says one channel. Interviews are on with guests who escaped from the gunmen in the Taj. Most of them have some very good things to say about the Taj staff. Finally some good news. Maybe I'll finally be able to sleep.

3:17 am. Just when I thought I could go to bed, lots of noise at the Taj. The dome covered in smoke, the fire seems to have spread over the roof. Huge sparks. Firing seems to have escalated.

3:25 am. The fire is spreading rapidly and gunfire can be heard. I hope no one was caught in that fire. It would be better to be shot than burnt to death.

Looking at the clouds of smoke I had this sudden feeling of deja vu. I spent hours watching the news during the 9/11 attacks and I remember the clouds of smoke from the Twin Towers. I wonder if this portion of the building will collapse too.

3:41 am. The fire at the Taj seems to be subsiding. News of another encounter outside a restaurant called Bootleggers at Colaba. Also the stairwell of the Taj in the old wing reportedly is full of bodies.

3:51 am. According to one channel, 2 terrorists killed in the Taj. 2 to go. A Japanese citizen has died in Bombay Hospital. The fire brigade is sending up ladders to try and get the trapped people down.

All schools and colleges in Mumbai will remain closed today. People are advised to stay indoors.

3:57 am. Shots of people waving from various windows hoping to be rescued by the fire brigade. Reports that terrorists may be holed up in the Cama hospital at Colaba.

4:03 am. Rapid Action Force gathering outside the Trident Oberoi. Near the th BP petrol pump (Colaba) which was blown up right at the start, a hostage situation seems to be going on at Nariman House. Cafe Leopold, just down the road, was apparently one of the first spots where firing occurred. So it seems that the news is getting back where it started.

4:15 am. 5 hours into the attacks, the RAF is also inside the Trident. The army had gone in about 2 hours back. The situation at the Taj is improving but at the Trident the situation is still uncertain.

More than 80 killed. Less than three hours to go before I have to wake up. I hope I wake up to good news. Or atleast the absence of more bad news.

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I fell asleep only by 5 am or so. It's now 7.20 am and from what I can gather nothing much has changed.