In India's financial hub of Mumbai, commandos and troops have mounted
an operation to clear two luxury hotels seized by gunmen. Anjana
Pasricha reports from New Delhi, at least 101 people have been killed
and as many as 287 wounded in coordinated attacks mounted by terrorists
at night.
A crack team of 200 commandos flew in
to Mumbai from New Delhi early Thursday to take charge of rescue
operations in two of the city's most posh hotels - the Taj Mahal hotel
and Oberoi Hotel. Soldiers have ringed the hotels.
Sporadic gunshots could be heard outside as commandos entered the hotels.
The
two hotels were among several high profile targets attacked by gunmen
who fired indiscriminately and tossed grenades late Wednesday. Since
then, an unknown number of people - both foreigners and Indians - are
trapped inside parts of the hotels, popular with both business
travelers and tourists.
Some foreigners are believed to be held hostage by the gunmen.
Some people evacuated overnight
Through
the night, fire crews evacuated a number of people from the Taj Mahal
hotel where a grenade apparently caused a huge blaze in a part of the
building.
Some of the people trapped inside, like this guest
at Taj Hotel, managed to communicate what was happening to reporters
via their phones.
"Till about 15 minutes ago, near my room, in
the stairwell, there was lot of firing going on, automatic weapons,"
says a guest. "The hotel management has done a very good job… They told
us to turn the lights off, shut the curtains and stay inside and do not
answer the door."
Home minister says attacks highly planned
Junior federal Home Minister Sri Prakash
Jaiswal says the terror attacks were highly planned and some of the
worst ever in the country.
Jaiswal says the government looks upon the terror attacks as a war and will fight it in the same way as a war is fought.
Mumbai
has virtually come to a standstill as police have advised people to
stay indoors. The stock markets have been shut as authorities cope with
one of the worst terror attacks ever in the country. Among those killed
were Mumbai's anti-terror chief and at least 11 policemen.
Hospitals
are filled with casualties as hundreds have been wounded in the
attacks. There are several foreigners among those hospitalized.
A little known group called the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
