Today on the eve of 26/11, I'm sharing what happened that day and how it changed my life completely.
I was RIGHT there at Nariman Point - working at a law firm where it all happened. Lived pretty close by too in a working women's hostel.
This is my experience. A thread. (1/n)
I was RIGHT there at Nariman Point - working at a law firm where it all happened. Lived pretty close by too in a working women's hostel.
This is my experience. A thread. (1/n)
Had a pretty regular day. Was working till around 8.30 PM. Left office and for a change took a route which went along the Trident hotel.
Saw it was unusually deserted and there was a large hole that had been made into its entrance. Quite uncommon but I didn't pay much heed
Saw it was unusually deserted and there was a large hole that had been made into its entrance. Quite uncommon but I didn't pay much heed
Came across a dog walking couple who told me to hurry along from the area as they saw fire.
Thought probably that's the reason why there were no guards outside. No traffic too.
Didn't pay much attention still... How was I to know that fully armed terrorists were inside?
Thought probably that's the reason why there were no guards outside. No traffic too.
Didn't pay much attention still... How was I to know that fully armed terrorists were inside?
About to reach my hostel, when I received a call from my uncle asking me whether I was safe. Said I was and asked him why he thought I may not be.
He said that he saw on tv there was a Gang war going on down at Colaba causeway near Leopold. He told me to be careful
He said that he saw on tv there was a Gang war going on down at Colaba causeway near Leopold. He told me to be careful
Still hadn't connected the dots.
Reached my hostel per usual. There was a guard outside the place and I felt safe.
Leopold was a favourite hangout of ours and went there often with friends/ colleagues. Felt bad.
Inside the hostel, everyone was fully glued to the TV.
Reached my hostel per usual. There was a guard outside the place and I felt safe.
Leopold was a favourite hangout of ours and went there often with friends/ colleagues. Felt bad.
Inside the hostel, everyone was fully glued to the TV.
TV had myriad reports and images of the "gang war", when the news of the carnage at CST station broke.
That's when sh*t started getting real.
Anxious parents made calls and the phones of all the girls around me kept ringing. A lot of girls were yet to come back to the hostel
That's when sh*t started getting real.
Anxious parents made calls and the phones of all the girls around me kept ringing. A lot of girls were yet to come back to the hostel
Our Warden swung into action. All the doors were shuttered, all windows were closed. She took a headcount and made us call the missing folks.
Meanwhile, girls were still trickling in from outside.
TV was on but on mute. Reports of a car blast came in from the suburbs
Meanwhile, girls were still trickling in from outside.
TV was on but on mute. Reports of a car blast came in from the suburbs
Now panic was setting in real thick and fast.
Father of a girl was a high-ranking Naval Officer & he sent a Military Police officer to check on us and give us some security. That was a relief. Our guard was scared himself.
Then we heard the dome at the Taj explode
Father of a girl was a high-ranking Naval Officer & he sent a Military Police officer to check on us and give us some security. That was a relief. Our guard was scared himself.
Then we heard the dome at the Taj explode
Now no one remained calm. There were close to 300 girls in a building near Mantralaya & MLA hostel and we didn't feel safe.
On the contrary, we were a soft target.
Someone started crying and that pretty much had a chain reaction. We could hear bullets being fired
On the contrary, we were a soft target.
Someone started crying and that pretty much had a chain reaction. We could hear bullets being fired
TV was kept on. Attacks were happening all around us. We couldn't pull our eyes away from the screen.
Everyone was super scared.
Warden told us to huddle in rooms and to sleep on the floor. There was a chance of stray bullets entering the hostel.
None of us slept that night
Everyone was super scared.
Warden told us to huddle in rooms and to sleep on the floor. There was a chance of stray bullets entering the hostel.
None of us slept that night
We were all up at 6 in the morning. The horror continued unabated. We were all numb.
Few girls wanted to go home to their local guardians but Warden refused. Shutters remained closed.
Her phone kept ringing and she kept answering. Assuring anxious parents. Hats off to her
Few girls wanted to go home to their local guardians but Warden refused. Shutters remained closed.
Her phone kept ringing and she kept answering. Assuring anxious parents. Hats off to her
The TV never turned off after that moment. We remained in the hostel for 4 days.
Hostel ran out of food because we were close to 300 and eating all 3 meals there when the arrangements were sufficient only for breakfast & dinner.
We were all numb and hoping it would all stop.
Hostel ran out of food because we were close to 300 and eating all 3 meals there when the arrangements were sufficient only for breakfast & dinner.
We were all numb and hoping it would all stop.
This time was amply utilised by us when we discussed govt response. It was clear by then that this was Paxtan's doing. We were waiting for a war to be announced. But no such luck. There was a lot of hot air but no action. Countless people lost lives. We were emotionally scarred
We jumped at misfired engines and sudden sounds - who knew what was lurking in which corner.
The famous "Mumbai" spirit is a hoax. People were numb to horror.
Took years for me to get over it. I still can't believe that our Central Govt did nothing - no retaliation!
The famous "Mumbai" spirit is a hoax. People were numb to horror.
Took years for me to get over it. I still can't believe that our Central Govt did nothing - no retaliation!
The only saving grace was Hutatma Tukaram Ombale. He had caught a terrorist alive and we knew that at least the evidence collected from him would be used to nail the perps (but no! The perps roam free. Till date).
Had never felt more helpless, vulnerable and unsafe in my own country. Horror of terrorism became all too real for me due to 26/11.
Blood boils when I read or come across terror sympathisers. There is nothing in my books that can ever forgive any terrorists...ever.
Blood boils when I read or come across terror sympathisers. There is nothing in my books that can ever forgive any terrorists...ever.
That's why when I come across the Modi Govt's response to Uri attack or Pulwama attack, I feel hopeful.
We need not live in fear. I had full faith on our armed forces even around 26/11 and that continues. All that was missing was political will. Which Modiji has 🙏🏻
We need not live in fear. I had full faith on our armed forces even around 26/11 and that continues. All that was missing was political will. Which Modiji has 🙏🏻
I will always vote for Modiji for this precise reason. He may not be perfect. But he has given hope to a common citizen like me that I needn't feel scared and vulnerable.
Needless to say, my faith in our armed forces is unshakeable. Will remain so 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Needless to say, my faith in our armed forces is unshakeable. Will remain so 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Painful to remember these occurrences. Can't even imagine the pain of those who lost their innocent loved ones at CST, Chabad House, Trident hotel & other places. The armed forces, the police who laid down their lives for rescue.
Please spare a moment to pray for all 🙏🏻
(n/n)
Please spare a moment to pray for all 🙏🏻
(n/n)
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