I can’t believe my eyes. Mumbai is burning. The 105-year-old Taj Palace a landmark is bursting into flames after carnage in Mumbai. The impressive red-domed structure sits opposite the landmark Gateway of India monument on the edge of the Arabian Sea through which the last colonial British troops departed after independence in 1947

19 million residents of India’s financial city, Mumbai are on high alert as things seem very uncertain at the moment.

AFP and Al Jazeera: On Wednesday night teams of young boys heavily armed stormed into luxury hotels, a popular restaurant, movie theatre, hostpitals and a crowded train station in coordinated attacks across India’s financial capital killing at least 101 people and wounding 300. Westerners(British or American passport holders) were taken hostage in Taj Mahal Palace, Trident, Oberoi Hotels and an apartment in Mumbai. Police had shot dead four gunmen and arrested nine suspects. Many of the casualties have been police officers and some have been high profile police officers. Anti Terrorist Chief Hemant Karkare has been killed in this incident as well. According to Al Jazeera Mumbai is under seige.

Most of the attacks have happened in the financial hub of Mumbai, near where the stock exchange resides and many other financial institutions. Curfew on the roads are making it inaccessible to workers in that area. Even schools have been closed.

SAA are flying South Africans back to South Africa. At a stage SAA 3 crew members were missing.

Even the England cricket team have abandoned their tour to India.

28/11/08 – Seige is over after 11 hour assault. Commandos complete operation in Nariman as Indians applaud them and celebrate in the street. Taj hotel still burning and security forces still fighting with gunmen. Oberoi Trident seige over 100 free about 24 bodies inside. Commandos still battling with gunmen in Taj loud explosions and 50 bodies inside.

29/11/08 – The seige must be over because when I checked google news there was other news on it today. Even Al Jazeera was showing other regions. Really sad state of affairs. so senseless killing innocent people.

My whole family and I from South Africa are heading that way for a tour and a wedding. We have the tickets, visas, malaria tablets and booked our tour.. Eish.. What now??? Do we stay or do we go?

Tags: Anti Terrorist Chief Hemant Karkare, Bomb Attacks in Mumbai, Chhatrapati Shivaji rail station, Gateway of India monument, India, Leopold's restaurant, Maharashtra state, Mumbai attacks, Mumbai Waterfront, Nariman house, Oberoi, Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai, Trident Hotel