Mumbai Streets Empty, Gunfire Continues
EmailBy KAREN RUSSO, ABC News Mumbai The view from Wasim Khan’s roof reveals a new Mumbai. Instead of streets crowded full of taxis, cars and cows, the roads are nearly empty but the roofs are full of people. Atop buildings near Colaba Causeway in south Mumbai, thousands of Mumbaikers have focused their attention on Nariman House where Indian military commandos are fighting with what is believed to be a handful of remaining uncaptured terrorists. Khan, along with about 50 people, have been watching the fighting from his roof since early Friday morning. He watched in part because he wants to see the action, but also because it is the only safe activity while their city is under seige. "We can’t go outside, we have to stay in our own buildings," said Khan, 24. "Police are not letting us out to get food to eat." As gunfire is exchanged and grenades explode, the crowds of onlookers yell and clap along with what appears to be military progress. "They are cheering like their team’s quarterback made a good throw," said local resident Peter Keep. But the oddly carnival-like atmosphere betrays the somber attitude felt across the city. The ordinarily bustling tourist haven along Calaba Causeway, a street that includes restaurants, local shops and outside vendors selling everything from scarves to wooden stamps, is mostly closed. Across the city, many people stayed home from work. Those who did venture to the office were met with a frightening reality; continued firefights throughout South Bombay. Anand Tanna, a banker, went to work only to hear gunshots nearby. "I made sure the bank’s shutters were down and everyone was safe inside. Then I left and went to work at a friend’s office down the road." At a hospital about two miles away, dozens of victims are recovering from the attacks. Bed after bed in one ward of the intensive care unit is full of people suffering from gunshot wounds. Australians Katherine Anstee, 22, and David Coker, 23, arrived to Mumbai on Wednesday night for the start of an eleven-week traveling holiday. Just two hours later they were being shot at by terrorists who attacked Leopold’s Cafe. Anstee was shot in the back of her thigh which shattered her femur. She is in a full leg cast, but expects to be transfered to a hospital in Sydney next week. During the shooting, Anstee at first thought the bullets were firecrackers because of the noise they made when hitting the tile floor. She dove under a table to try to reach safety but was shot. "When I was crawling on the floor, there was a woman lying in front of me who was dead. The two managed to escape the attack, eventually hailing a taxi to the hospital. "We feel lucky," she said from her hospital bed. "We feel relatively unscathed." Read more blogs from Karen Russo Read more blogs from the ABC News Staff
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As an eldely person, who has lived in Mumbai,knows his Colaba and Mumbai history I am more than a bit puzzled by all this talk of Nariman House as a “Jewish Centre”.A residential house in a crowded residential block, it was most probably associated with .”Veer”Nariman,a freedom fighter,Congressman and a Parsee of some distinction of Pre-Independance India {after whom a Street is also named in the the Business area-the “Fort”in Mumbai.Shouldn’t the media-especially the foreign media do some fact- checking before putting it the global terrorist map in these days of targeting and knee -jerk reactions?
Posted by: P,Kale | November 28, 2008, 2:58 am 2:58 am
Due to our support of Palestinian occupation and the armed robbery of Iraq, Americans have been increasingly unpopular throughout the world. Now it is getting to the point where it is downright dangerous for us to travel abroad.
Posted by: JoeForSure | November 28, 2008, 4:50 am 4:50 am
It will be interesting to hear the motivations for this attack. If they are singling out Americans, British and Israeli citizens, the motivations become pretty obvious. I wonder if Kashmir fits into the picture though.
JoeForSure – Your statement holds water.
Sanctions on Iraq sponsored by the US throughout the 90s killed 500,000+ Iraqis. The recent Iraq war has killed another 500,000 muslims. Overwhelming support of Israel has seen the continued dehumanization of the Palestinian people. The US is guilty of many ills. We seem to attack somebody new every couple of years. We threaten a nation Iran that hasn’t attacked anyone preemtively in 250 years. These people should resist our policies. The question is should they support Gandi’s approach or a miltant approach. My guess is that they will use violence to counter American militaristic exceptionalism. Hold on and enjoy the ride!
Posted by: Huh | November 28, 2008, 5:43 am 5:43 am
Once again, the Muslims have proven how brave they are. It takes a REAL man to gun down unarmed civilians, including children!
Isn’t it FUN to watch people bleeding to death on the streets?
Especially when they don’t agree with you.
Posted by: Rhys | November 28, 2008, 5:46 am 5:46 am
Rhys – Agreed. Also people bleeding in the streets from Agent Orange, Napalm, atomic bombs, embargos, sanction, war by proxy, etc. should be included in your rant.
Posted by: Huh | November 28, 2008, 5:57 am 5:57 am
Huh & Joe, Please tell me what the massacre of an innocent 13 year-old girl has to do with YOUR rants? These men are the lowest type of animal on the earth, and will NEVER get what they want from this type of slaughter of innocents! So you can stop defending their actions. Disgusting
Posted by: Deborah | November 28, 2008, 6:49 am 6:49 am
Deborah – I am disgusted by these events. These events pale in comparison with what our military and government has done to people that these nutjobs identify with. Who do you identify with? I am sure I would be equally disgusted.
Posted by: Huh | November 28, 2008, 9:46 am 9:46 am
Deborah – How many 13 year olds in those 1 million just in Iraq or the millions in Vietnam, etc. The “Golden Rule” applies. The adage what goes around comes around is so true. Change the obscene arrogant US foreign policy, and the world will become safer. If somebody invaded us, we would put the 2nd amendment to the test to be sure.
Posted by: Huh | November 28, 2008, 9:55 am 9:55 am
ABC news has done an outstanding job sharing the average Indian’s point of view.
Posted by: Minor | November 28, 2008, 5:43 pm 5:43 pm
The world would be much safer place without all the muslims. Period.
Posted by: Madhav | November 28, 2008, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
Madhav,
The world would be safer without humans. Good luck killing those billion plus Muslims. Sounds pretty tough.
Posted by: Ben Straub | November 28, 2008, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
Madhav,
The world would be safer without humans. Good luck killing those billion plus Muslims. Sounds pretty tough.
Posted by: Ben Straub | November 28, 2008, 8:19 pm 8:19 pm
Madhav…you probably couldn’t kill a colony of ants, and we (the US) haven’t been able to kill a small colony of muslims in the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan. What makes you think we can take on the 1 billion +, second largest religion in the world, and the fastest growing religion in the world? Kinda sounds Hilter-ish if u ask me.
And why sensationalize the 2 or 3 Jews that died in this violence? Who really cares about 2-3 Jews when almost 192 other people died and you hardly hear anything about them.
I remember saying this about a month ago and I pissed off ALOT of people:
Jews throw a hissy fit when they are insulted, but noone else really complains when they are made fun of. Its the end of the world when a jew or two dies but who cares about the other people that died along with them, right? That is the attitude that I notice that comes from Jews, that and the Hitler/Nazi like treatment of the Palestinians really turns me off.
Posted by: Citizen in FL | November 29, 2008, 9:35 am 9:35 am
Great reporting Karen. Developments in India and Pakistan will significantly impact U.S. foreign policy going forward. Hopefully ABC News and others will step up their commitment to international news on a regular basis.
Posted by: John G. Self | November 30, 2008, 11:07 am 11:07 am