Security forces are still engaged in gunfights with terrorists at luxury hotels Taj Intercontinental and Trident after armed gunmen went on a rampage in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.
Six blasts were heard at Taj and one at Trident (formerly Oberoi). Fire was still raging in the old wing of the Taj hotel several hours after it was rocked by five to six blasts and enormous clouds of black smoke rose from the century-old edifice on Mumbai’s waterfront.
“The operation (by security forces) is still going on,” said state Chief Minister Vilasrao Desmukh. Army and naval commandos and Rapid Action force personnel joined in the operations to rescue those stranded in the two hotels. Five columns of Army and 200 National Security Guard commandoes have been rushed. An Army commando was injured in shoot-out at Taj.
The attack on the 22-storey Taj hotel by the Arabian Sea was one among the 10 daring strikes across various locations in south Mumbai.
Terrorists are reportedly holed up inside in the hotel and several people including foreigners are said to be held hostage. Several tourists were also seen escaping the hotel and several others were reportedly ushered out.