[Lakshmi Bhabi]

YEs, best to stay in.

[oRiOn]

News update: 2 Navy Marines at the Oberoi Towers injured - both sides in a standoff on the higher floors - 18 - 21st floors.

This looks like it might go on for a while, since there are civilian lives involved.

Rion

[judecg]

latest estimates are that 60-80 people were killed inside the Taj

and another explosion inside the Trident.. just now

[machadinha]

Thanks for ongoing reports, people.

First and totally off-topic:

Originally Posted by birds

Yesterday night has been a bad night for India.

Besides the horrific events in Mumbai, in Tamil Nadu at least 64 people died in a cyclone.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/I...ow/3761276.cms

That article actually mentions 64 deaths total "since the north-east monsoon set in last month [...] At least 22 people have been reported dead over the last few days alone ..." Not any les horrific, of course, just keeping our i's dotted.

Originally Posted by Lakshmi Bhabi

NONE of this on CNN live...

? You may have caught them at a time when they covered some other world news, but from what I've seen they've been pretty much on top of it non-stop, suspending advertisements and any other news for the first hours last night my time too. (EDIT: Come to think of it, we will be served here by their European desk or what's it called, their coverage may well vary internationally I guess.) I got a little sick with the usual talking heads and their western-centric views as the night rolled on, but CNN could have done a worse job of it I thought. (I do regret however BBC World News having been taken off the cable here, so TV-wise CNN is currently pretty much all I have to go on for ongoing coverage, besides our regular news hours. Well, I did see some, to my mind, equally rash and weird analyses and statements pass by on the regular nightly BBC News as well. But, whatever.)

Originally Posted by suiko

UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Mumbai, and staying inside if you are there

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-...-oceania/india

Looks like our trip to India in two weeks is not happening

I'd be very surprised if you'd notice much of anything two weeks from now. But then I don't hold a crystal ball either, it's any traveler's own call of course.

Originally Posted by DesiKurdi

We were at Leopold's last night and I took one to my leg. It wasnt a direct hit, but according to the people who helped me out, it looks like three or four bullets grazed me because my leg looks pretty bad. Aside from that, I am fine.

Blurdy hell Desi, glad to hear you are, "aside from that ," fine. Do take up those kind IM'ers's offers to have someone to talk to/a shoulder to cry on if needed. And I do hope no reports of other members being directly affected will trickle in.

Originally Posted by brishti

and last but not the least - the most lethal attack of them all - and not being spoken about at length:
the CST station - they fired on the crowds indiscriminately - it was rush hour time.
so draw your own conclusions at how many individuals took a bullet.

Very good and sober round-up Brishti, thanks (and thanks Jude, for your continuing and unrelenting coverage). CNN (I think it was? Or BBC news after all) has actually shown footage of the CST/VT hallways. Blood and scattered bags everywhere, as you might imagine.

Well, take care all, again. And nb yes of course news reports will be conflicting with an event like this, how would it be any different.

nnb At WikiNews there are addresses for blood donations. It was mentioned in the news these had been called for indeed. I would add this is often the case in such emergency situations, when it turns out it wasn't really called for, so medical staff just find themselves overrun by well-meaning people getting in their way. So try to make sure it is actually needed, and don't bother them if it isn't. Anyway here go (and ah, I realize now they're just phone nrs., so besides clogging those up, at least there's no chance of getting physically in the way):
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Multiple...jures_hundreds:

Hotlines provided for blood donation
J.J. Hospital "022-23739400"
St George Hospital "022-22620344"
Bombay Hospital"022- 22067676 extn 216"

[judecg]

Smoke and possibly fire in the Trident now...

60 hostages rescued now....

[machadinha]

Also at WikiNews btw http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Multiple...jures_hundreds :

Hotlines provided by foreign affairs departments
People who are concerned about the well being of friends or family may call these hotlines:

United States Department of State: 1-888-407-4747
[Britain] Foreign and Commonwealth Office: +44 (0)20 7008 0000
[Australia] Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: 1800 002 214
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada: 1-800-267-6788

[judecg]

Originally Posted by machadinha

nnb At WikiNews there are addresses for blood donations. It was mentioned in the news these had been called for indeed. I would add this is often the case in such emergency situations, when it turns out it wasn't really called for, so medical staff just find themselves overrun by well-meaning people getting in their way. So try to make sure it is actually needed, and don't bother them if it isn't.

Just a note on that... blood is ALWAYS a problem here. From experience with all my friends and their relatives.. there is often a practice that you can't get blood unless you have someone donate it (give a pint to get a pint), which is a VERY foreign idea for us from the west. It is always always in great need. Please... don't hesitate to donate if you can.

[judecg]

Oberoi 13th and 14th hotel is on fire... it is raging and spreading...

[machadinha]

Originally Posted by judecg

Just a note on that... blood is ALWAYS a problem here.

Ah, I see, that's a good addition, thanks for that.

Allow me to repeat that here then, lest it goes lost in my lengthier post:

At WikiNews there are telephone numbers for blood donations:
http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Multiple...jures_hundreds:

Hotlines provided for blood donation
J.J. Hospital "022-23739400"
St George Hospital "022-22620344"
Bombay Hospital"022- 22067676 extn 216"

[judecg]

Also hearing that a large number of people are still inside the Taj! man.. it feels like this going to go one for a LONG time. I just cannot imagine the feeling of panic those people must be feeling. Esp as fire is spreading in the Oberoi. I hope something is being told to them... loudspeakers or something..

[Tonks01]

any indication of how big these explosions are? ie. enough to level the buildings?

[judecg]

Originally Posted by Tonks01

any indication of how big these explosions are? ie. enough to level the buildings?

no no.. nothing like that. Just enough.. it seems.. to cause fires .. at times. They dont always know if it is the terrorists or the NSG doing something.

[manojb]

Originally Posted by Tonks01

any indication of how big these explosions are? ie. enough to level the buildings?

I think they are hand-grenade explosions. Should not level the buildings, but enough to start large-scale fires.

[Tonks01]

Is this the worst terror attack India has seen in recent times? its moments like this which change the fabric of a country forever. I'm heart broken for the entire country.

[judecg]

hey IM'ers ... I am going to step away for a wee while. Want to have a shower to feel a little better. back shortly for more updates. I do hope something decisive happens soon... peacefully!

Take care all.. back soon