Mumbai Terror: 'No hostage-like situation at any hotel'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said there is no hostage-like situation at any hotel where people have locked themselves in their rooms for safety after the attack by terrorists last.

"There is no hostage situation in Mumbai now, certain people have locked themselves in their hotel rooms for safety," Deshmukh told reporters here.

The operations are still going on to rescue people at hotel Taj, Trident-Oberoi and Nariman House under planning of NSG, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil said people stuck inside the hotels are safe.

"I spoke to some of them over phone and they are in touch with us," Patil said, adding depending on the activities of terrorists, NSG commandoes are doing rescue work.

 

Deshmukh hoped that the metropolis limps back to normalcy by tomorrow.

"The schools, colleges and other prime establishments remain closed today as we appealed them to be. I am sure that Mumbai will be operational from tomorrow."

He said six, out of the seven injured foreigners, have died but their nationalities are yet to be confirmed.

"One terrorist, involved in the terror act, has been caught. After inquiry only we will come to know to which group he belongs," he said.

He admitted that there was no specific alert given to the state by the Centre.

"There has always been a general perception that Maharashtra is on hit list of terrorists... A lot of Central installations are based in Mumbai.

"So, Mumbai is always on their target. The general information was there but there was no particular or specific alert was given," he said.

Deshmukh, however, refused to say that there was an Intelligence failure.