Over 178 persons were killed in an unprecedented terrorist attack at over half-a-dozen locations including hotels, hospitals and railway station in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.Indiscriminate firing and explosions took place across the financial capital of India. The terrorists were earlier firing at different places in a radius of three kilometers in Southern Mumbai.
The first report came from Taj Hotel where the sounds of gunshots were reported. Later there was a similar report from Capital Cinema Hall and Colaba. Initial TV footage showed bloodstains outside Taj Hotel.
There was also an explosion heard near Oberai Hotel. Two bomb blasts also occurred at various places including in a taxi, said Star TV News channel. Four militants were trapped inside hotel and police had reached the place.
There was also firing at Leopold Hotel and Mumbai CST station. It was learnt that AK 47 was used in firing. The security agencies had accepted that it was indeed a terrorist strike. The injured persons were being taken to hospitals. It was not clear which terrorist group was involved in the attack.
Till late night nothing was clear as the number of incidents ranged from four to seven in different reports. Meanwhile, the police had declared a high-alert and commandos were handed over operation to rescue the hostages.
The local trains were also stopped. The number of persons who died in the terror attacks kept on increasing through the night.
Senior officials including an ATS officer, an ACP and many others lost their lives. TV channels showed images of the deadly strikes. A police car was hijacked by terrorists. Some terrorists were arrested also.
