THE SIEGE AND THE RESCUE

For the Rapid Action Force personnel, taking position outside the Oberoi Hotel, it8217;s been a long wait. Hundreds of people spend a sleepless night in the bylanes of Nariman Point, waiting to hear news about their loved ones, hoping that they would be rescued. A fire breaks out in one of the sea-facing rooms of the hotel, more shrieks and shouts are heard.

Thursday, Nov 27, 2008

Early morning Oberoi hotel

Small batches of guests are evacuated, raising hopes of others waiting outside. Earlier, they have seen a small sign in a window: 8220;Save us8221;. Also fanning their hopes are the long periods of complete silence from the hotel, even after security forces have entered it. By Friday morning, more evacuees make their way out, all hustled into cars and ambulances.

4.15 am

Taj Mahal hotel

Journalist Bhisham Mansukhani, who is in the ballroom of the hotel for a friend8217;s wedding, is among those rushed off into the restaurant, Chambers, by head chef Hemant Oberoi. They are informed that they will be evacuated. Suddenly, firing starts again and they have to rush into the Lavender Room. One of them takes a bullet in his stomach. 8220;We switched off the lights and closed the door.

The man who was injured in his stomach was going to retire that day and had worked in the Taj for a good number of years. A doctor among us tied up his wounds, but his situation was grave and he kept moaning in pain,8221; he remembers.

While gunfire and grenades continued through Thursday, the Marine Commandos conducted an operation 8212; sans even a copy of the building plan. The NSG takes charge later. Gunfire rages throughout the next night.

Afternoon

Nariman House

While the Taj and Oberoi hotels provided the terrorists enough space to hide, move around and change positions, at Colaba8217;s Nariman House, they have the armed forces right in their faces 8212; in the narrow bylanes around, in the buildings across and later on their own rooftop. Snipers take up positions by late evening. In surrounding buildings, a vigil continues all night.

10.30 pm

Nariman House

NSG men evacuate a dozen peoplefrom a neighbouring building. It is a long, tense night, both sides sizing each other up, periodic lulls punctuated by explosions. At one point, a commando lying flat on his stomach whispers to a reporter peeking out from the end of a bylane for too long: 8220;He has laser guns and can shoot precisely in the dark too, if you don8217;t stop peeping.8221;

Friday, Nov 28, 2008

6 am

Nariman House

The NSG8217;s attack chopper is heard, hovering metres above the rooftop. As 30 of them rappel down, snipers give cover fire. As the commandos break into the building from the roof, commandos in the adjacent building start firing, forcing the terrorists to move and reveal their positions. As the windowpanes shatter in the firing, commandos get a view of the rooms inside.

3 pm

Oberoi hotel

The situation at the Oberoi is declared neutralised, at least 32 people killed, 10 of them staffers. Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil and Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor pay a visit, followed by a string of hearses and police vans, carrying policemen and forensics experts. 8220;There are 330 rooms at the Oberoi and another 560 at Trident. The hotel enjoys a 60 per cent occupancy and therefore, even thinking of the numbers involved sends a shiver through me,8221; says one employee. The numbers end up less than expected. The terrorists holding hostages in the Oberoi did less damage than in the Taj. But the stench inside the hotel is overpowering, say those who go inside with R R Patil 8212; even cops doing panchnamas battle nausea, since several bodies have been there for over two days. Destroyed glass panels and shards of glass are everywhere, the blood-splattered floor unrecognisable in some places.

3.30 pm

Nariman House

The NSG begins the final assault.The militants return fire fiercely, exploding grenades from the lower floors to the top floor where the NSG had landed.

5.45 pm

Nariman House

An explosion blows up the fourth floor entirely, letting the NSG guards who had taken over the fifth floor move quickly down.

9 pm

Nariman House

NSG chief J K Dutt arrives and terms it a 8220;unique operation8221;. He spares a thought for his jawan who had died earlier: 8220;It was a gallant act on his part as he braved the bullets while coming down.8221;

9.45 pm

Nariman House

Five hostages, including the Rabbi and his wife, are found dead. One commando is dead, while two are injured.

Saturday, Nov 29, 2008

8.30 am

Taj Mahal hotel

The operation is finally over. The ground and first floors are engulfed in huge flames threatening to spread to other rooms. Two fire brigade vehicles rush to extinguish the fire.

9 am

Taj Mahal hotel

Dutt announces the combing operation is over. Three terrorists, two NSG men are dead. 8220;We tried to capture the terrorists alive. But the kind of resistance they showed offered us no choice but to kill them,8221; he says. For 100 years, the pavement near the Gateway of India outside the Taj has been home for hundreds of pigeons. Shaken by the explosions, the pigeons stay away through Saturday.