Mumbai Blasts Raises Questions About Hotel Security

Terrorists stormed the city on Wednesday, 26November, 2008 night and struck at seven sites in the business hub of south Mumbai, one of the terrorists claimed that the attack was to avenge the “persecution” of Muslims in India.

Trident hotel, few business delegates were having a conference call and they heard two large noises, and they sounded like thuds from within the room, and that's when they actually realised that there was something serious happening. When they heard the two thuds, that's when they looked out of the window and onto their left they could see the Oberoi Hotel -- which was under flames. Television footage showed some terrorists, wearing dark colour T-shirts and holding automatic rifles, near some of the buildings under attack.

The lights were out, and hostages were just told to huddle there until they heard from the hotel staff. As they reached the banquet, to their surprise they found another 150  to 200 people in a fit of shock. Twenty, 30 minutes past that, one of the senior advisers of the hotel mentioned we would be escorted to the back of the hotel, put into groups of 10 people and told to run to the neighboring cinema hall, where we would be safe.

Gunfire and explosions were heard at the landmark Taj Mahal hotel and thick plumes of smoke rose from the building too. Apart from this Mumbai witnessed explosions at the Oberoi hotel, Trident hotel and firing at a hospital where gunmen were surrounded. Corps were stopped from moving into the hotels by the terrorists, who were furling grenades at them, from the roof top of the hotel. Many soldiers and members from the Indian police troop sacrificed their lives in their battle against terrorists, to safeguard the commoners and to restore back peace and normalcy in Mumbai, they all deserve to be saluted.

All this was said to be to avenge the 1992 razing of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya and the “persecution” of Muslims in India. He also demanded the release of jailed Indian Mujahideen militants in exchange for tourists held hostage at various hotels – such as Taj, Oberoi and Trident. This was told by one of the terrorist to the media channels over phone.

Is this incident raising questions on your security at hotels? If so, don’t be worried, all hotels in Chennai, have taken enough precaution after the Mumbai blasts. They have taken it as a good learning and have double protected the surroundings with alarm systems.