Mumbai Terror: 'I did not panic'

'Hanuman Chalisa' prayer book and a photograph of Siddhi Vinayak helped a stranded resident in the Taj hotel here to remain calm as a gun battle raged between terrorists and security forces outside the hotel.

"I have my Hanuman Chalisa with me....I have Siddhi Vinayak picture in my room....I have not panicked during the night," said Deepak, while giving the first hand blow by blow account of the high-voltage gun battle at the country's century-old iconic landmark on Mumbai's waterfront.

Recalling the incident as it unfolded, he said: "I got a phone call 'please secure your door'."

Deepak was having dinner when he was asked to turn off the lights. Moments later, the television channels were cut off, he said.

 

"Two explosions I heard were the loudest in my lifetime," he said as he recounted the series of explosions and sounds of firing outside the hotel.

As two gunmen kept firing from automatic weapons, Deepak said he could see people outside running around.

Two terrorists, who held some guests hostage, were quite young, Deepak said.

Among the hostages were six to seven foreigners, he said.

A tourist guide was worried about the fate of five Canadians he had put up in the hotel.

Fire was still raging in the old wing of the Taj hotel several hours after it was rocked by five to six blasts last night and enormous clouds of black smoke could be seen from the edifice opposite the historic Gateway of India.

While narrating the incident, Deepak prayed for the brave policemen who lost their lives while trying to save the people.

Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare was among the 11 police personnel killed in the terror strikes in the country's financial capital.

The terror strikes have left about 100 people dead and around 300 injured.

Deepak expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for rushing back here from Kerala and ensuring swift action.

Asked if he had any message for his family members, who must have been worried about him, he said: "I am in touch with my family."