This Day 2 Post continues where I left off from Mumbai Blasts: Day 1
Update: between 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm; Indian Time; Friday Nov 28th
Follow my updates on Twitter http://twitter.com/arunshanbhag
Posting Pics on FLickr! username “shanbhag”
All these pics are from INSIDE the Secure Staging Cordon in front of the Taj; assembled here were fire engines, ambulances, Police forces, some of the Rapid Reaction Forces and some commandos; And ALL media types!
Scores of reporters looking at the Taj within the staging cordon in front of the Taj Intercontinental; Gateway of India in the back!
Every time we heard a blast or gunfire, everyone looked at the Taj to try and figure out where it came from.
Scarred Beauty! Really! The Taj Still stands Tall!
A person holding a sign supporting the troops. Nice!
Sorry, some pics are blurry; it was getting dark and police asked me not to use a flash inside the cordon. Apparently the flash may be mistaken for gunfire by commandos or terrorists.
Some of the commandos on the ready!
Forces in Flak jackets in front of the Main Entrance of Taj IC; Taj IC was the forward Staging area! I think these guys were ATS guys! Sorry for blurrypics; no flash!
BBC International TV Crew which interviewed me. 
)
Update: ~ 2:00 pm; Indian Time; Friday Nov 28th
This series of pics is from SB Road, aka Colaba Causeway! COnnecting Regal Cinema on the North to the Street leading to the Nariman Bldg. This street is the main busy street and runs parallel to the Taj Mahal also. Thus all access road leading to Taj cross SB Road. Thus Police have a strong interest to control traffic on this Rd. Also, Leopold Cafe, where the terrorist started the shooting is on this road. So is our house! Pics are from around 2 pm this afternoon.
Armed personnel patrolling SB Road
Crowd gathered and peering down Nowroji Street leading to the Taj. Police have barricaded the st, so folks are gathered on SB road and are likely looking towards the Taj
Remember I said earlier, something is going on? An ambulance raced from Police Station (you don’t need to know where exactly) South on SB Rd towards Nariman Bldg
Followed by two trucks of Rapid Action Force personnel.
See the two trucks staging right after the Cusrow Baug main entrance. This is still a few blocks before the Nariman Bldg. Prolly setting up a Barrier cordon. They are now OFF SB Rd and I feel comfortable sharing these time delayed images!
Followed by a truck with Army personnel!
Just before this, Police had taken aggressive action to put a “nakabandi” in place on SB Road and within a few minutes all traffic on SB Rd was halted; See how the entire Rd is now deserted. For bearings. This is looking North and at the end of the Rd is the Rotary leading to the museum ahead and Regal Cinema on the Right.
Update: ~ 9:00 am; Indian Time; Friday Nov 28th
Follow my updates on Twitter http://twitter.com/arunshanbhag
Posting Pics on FLickr! username “shanbhag”
Tight crop of Commandos on Nariman Bldg
Helicopters are buzzing straight overhead our building as they circle Nariman Bldg!
Closeup of burnt dome of Taj from this morning
Update: ~ 7:45 – 8:00 am; Indian Time; Friday Nov 28th
Follow my updates on Twitter http://twitter.com/arunshanbhag
Posting Pics on FLickr! username “shanbhag”
(Right click and download images for larger sizes ~ 6 inch wide)
Commando Insertion on top of Nariman Building. Pics taken from my terrace; For bearings. This is Due South of our Building; Taj is Nearly East.
Nariman Bldg IS Orthodox Jewish group Chabad Lubavitch; Or Chabbad House!
It is about a third of a mile from our home!
Helicopter approaching Nariman Bldg
Wide view to show densely built up area! You can see a commando rappelling down
These images cropped to show commandos rappelling down!
One more!
More! You can see other commandos on terrace – peer closely!
Helicopter leaving; Guide line trailing as it was winched up!
Update: ~ 6:45 – 7:00 am:Indian Time; Friday Nov 28th
Follow my updates on Twitter http://twitter.com/arunshanbhag
Posting all pics on FLickr! username “shanbhag”
Was tossing and turning since 5 this morning; Sky was still dark. Finally got up, and checked Online; Walked up to the Terrace to see the TAJ! IT IS STILL THERE! ~ 6:45 am
The dome which was burning last night is nearly all gone! The base of the dome still appears to be aflame! Little smoke;
A wider angle view taking in the Taj-Intercontinental!
You can see the missing dome in yesterdays pics of the Taj! (reverse chronological)
Milkman delivers milk. Papa asks to take extra milk (2 L); milk man is happier coz all businesses still closed less demand for milk.
[...] Minutes-old photos of commando drops onto roof of Jewish center. Technorati Tags: Mumbai Sphere: Related [...]
I am an American of Indan origin. Thanks for posting these pictures. Our hearts and prayers are with you all. We are a great country and a great civilization and we will come out of this allright. The terrorists and everything they stand for will not succeed. We are a free people and we love our freedom. We love life and they love death. We will win!
I believe you stated your Flickr user name incorrectly above — found the photos at user name “shanbhag” not “arunshanbhag.” Thanks for posting. Stay safe. I am praying for peace of Mumbai.
I am looking into the news but don’t know how to reach media… already indian commanders have inform not to broadcast each and everything, especially Army/commander man positions where they are standing and how they are moving inside to attack. Currently in Nariman attack, media is exposing and leaking all the positions of commanders and army man… you never know indirectly the information is going to terrorist and operation can be interrupted or can be a reverse attack. So Please inform media not to leak any on-going activities of NSG. Media is NDTV, especially IBN7 , CNN IBN and others too….calling media also doesn’t work coz they are still leaking movements and positions….also let police do there work and take interviews after operations are done… so please media don’t spoil the operation if you want to help , help families to find and link to their missing ones…
Good work…U make more sence than a lot of the Twits on #mumbai
…and even some IBN loops!
DM NSG in Nariman chopper monitoring (IBN live ticker) (1415 hrs AEST)
All I can say is please stay safe…and take care.
[...] Citizen Journalism in Mumbai Terror Attacks – keep checking it for updates! Arun Shanbhag has some poignant pictures and prose on his first-hand experience of the terror attacks Twitter updates – they’re fast and furious [...]
Can someone please inform media to keep away and don’t show of Live firing , if NSG is trying to get position of terrorist by firing but media doesn’t understand instead of that they are giving position of our commanders/army people by showing them and zooming them….
Hi Mr. Shanbhag,
I am glad to find your blog. I heard you on CNN and they had misspelled your name but I was still able to google you. I am grateful for all the updates given on your blog. I don’t have anyone stuck in Mumbai but I still feel the need to know that all those who are stuck and held up by these criminals will come out of it unharmed. My prayers are with them. It aches my heart to see so many hurt and not being able to do a thing about it hurts.
[...] Vinu has put up a whole load of pictures. He’s been out and about for a while capturing on camera what’s happening around. And Arun Shanbag too ventured out for a bit. but says that his big bazooka lens will probably get him into trouble. He’s posted his first hand accounts here. [...]
I couldn’t sleep properly and was hoping to get good news from mumbai
thanks for the updates Arun. But plz be safe.
What is going on at Jewish Center? Is there still fighting there? Is there an Indian news outlet that has more up to date info?
Arun, I heard your report on CNN. I didn’t know you are in Mumbai, I just thought it’s probably you but now I know it’s you. Thanksgiving was not good for us here at all, couldn’t eat or feel joy. My heart goes out to people there.
As of this morning, they are still trying to secure Taj. First day,CNN didn’t report it much and then they caught on the next day. I had been watching BBCA.
Be safe. Thanks for this post.
When US stunned by such attacks, what steps they took is in front of world. since world wars to WTC attacks. Just finish it off once attacking the neighbour country, who’s providing food to such activities.
Why to maintain such millitants (simi activists,mujahiddins) once grabbed? why not killed…….? why to let happen one more ‘Kandhar Hijack’ or ‘Civil wars at Delhi/Mumbai’ ???
If millitants are not showing any remorse then why we ? Kill them !!
Instead wasting such valuable commanders & chiefs, Let’s finish it off once.
Above all, our Congress government is not going to do anything. Still their statement is “Don’t Panic”. Only one thing they can do best “FIlling pockets”
First step towards all this is ‘Change the government”
Lets Collectively fight against this…….!!
Hi Arun,
Just heard you on CNN. Though they had mispelled your name I was sure it was you! Was not aware that you were in Mumbai.Please do stay safe. My heart goes out to all the Innocent people who have lost their lives. Such an unfortunate incident. Hope your family and friend’s are safe. Please do take care. Feeling bad to see the state of Mumbai at the moment. Hope all calms down soon. Thanks for the updates!
Stay safe
thank god for the indian armed forces that are keeping us safe. its at times like this that we realise how vital they are in a country like india – the flushing out of tererorists cd not have happened without them.
Hello Arun,
Can you please send me your email address to *edited* as I would like to have a very quick chat with you.
Kind regards
Siobhan Courtney
Interactive Reporter
BBC News
[...] Mumbai Blasts: Day 2 Live Blogging [...]
I have been glued to the tv coverage since thurday morning. I live in Singapore. But since I heard about your blog on cnn, Ive stopped watching the live coverage which just kept repeating itself.
You are doing a better job. Please do continue and keep us updated. Your photos are really amazing , and they really touched me.
Am hoping to see more pics of Mumbai recovering from this horrible uncalled episode. Do take care of yourself and god bless.
Its extremely sad to see how Mumbai went in unsafe hands owing to corrupt politicians, corrupt judiciary, corrupt bureaucrats who are busy filling their pockets. Its sad to see young brave hearts of Indian soil have to lay down their lives while politicians live under Z security hiding in their safe hideouts. Those who cannot respect human life are not human beings.
Great Job Arun, just heard you on CNN few minutes ago.
what you have done is an excellent job. Space opposite Oberoi Trident hotel The place where I felt at peace is no longer the same. I hope things come back to normal soon and we are ready for the future with more strength next time.
Thanks for sharing these valuable information.
I appreciate your time.
I live in London and I am deeply sad since last two nights. Watching this news and media. Praying for all the good.
Still proude of our Police force, Army, Commando and security force. They are fighting terrirism with very low safety precautions when we compare it with western counrties.
Hats of to them.. Hopefully will less casualty, This will over and Mumbai once again will on move with its bollywood bits around the world!..
Arun, Once the dust settles down (literally and figuratively speaking), can I please ask you to write a guest post for me based on your experience over these past few days?
Thanks.
Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!
Shantanu @ http://satyameva-jayate.org/
Thank you for keeping us informed. Please be careful, and remember you and your country are in our prayers. God Bless.
Helen
That big fire in the Taj Dome was so big based on the posted pictures. Don’t you have plans to leave your house for a moment and go to safer location?
Its time for a strike against pakistan. They must be destroyed.
Great work. Thanks for your efforts.
Thanks for the post. Puts things in perspective, and saddens the heart for an Indian immigrant in US, who can’t fathom the chasm between the economic progress much publicized and the existence of terrorism in the same space.
Do we need more regulation in the country?
I have been an Ex mumbaikar.. seeing the present situation gives me shivers when i think of visiting India… the pictures are so disturbing and i pray for all those who hav lost their loved ones in the mishap…
gr8 work sir.
Thank you for posting these pictures and the commentary. It provides invaluable information for someone like me, a stranger to India and Mumbai. Your deep knowledge of and love for the city is obvious.
[...] Arun Shanbhag from Mumbai is maintaining a live pictorial narrative here on his blog – check it out for more updates and pictures from the different hotspots in Mumbai. Hotlines for [...]
i salute police officials n commandos who sacrificed their lives………
These photos are something else. I was at a friend’s place yesterday for Thanksgiving, and since all of us are somehow connected to Mumbai, that was the bulk of the conversation…the occurrences of the past few days. The TV was on the whole time. I still can’t believe it happened. They’re calling it India’s 9/11.
Again, please stay safe!
[...] Live Blogging from Mumbai – Arun Shanbhag [...]
Great work with hard efforts Arun…! The pixs says a lot the current worst condition of Mumbai. Please b safe.
We ppl can do nothing but prayer!
Hello Arun, have been gluded to the TV for 48 hrs.Just wondering how close are you allowed to got to Taj.Isn’t there a curfuew in place ? Is it still unorganized between spl commandos and Maharashtra police ?
thanks, mano
Yaap, now all we can do is just pray.
Ask yourselves what diff will you be from tomorrow and what is your contribution for the change we all want to see. No matter in blaming politicians -remember we elected them and they are only capable what we deemed them to be.. Ask what we can do tomorrow?? We Indians are too submissive and history has shown that we let this things dryup over time..
Time for action plans guys.. lets get leverage technology as Obama as used of his campagin,, and we Indians are no new to technology.. C’mon lets pull our minds, see what we can do – “Yes, we can ”
Jai Hind
I still wonder, what was RAJ THAKRE doing when all this was happening? Shouldn’t he along with his SENA must have joined hands with Commondos in this operations to save his (of cousrs our as well) beloved Mumbai??
* edited * by AS
Above is the profile of a commando. who was killed in this operation.
* edited * by AS
I think now there has been seversal such incedents of bomb blast in Mumbai.
We must now sit back and analize these attacks and rather then trying to say how or what we can do to stop it, we must think as to how to act over them in a very strong manner.
We should have a speacilist task force who would take control of the situation and will be in full command when ever such incident happen and intervine and intoregate the incident. something like that of SWAT. or home land security.
We must no go blaming pakistan or al quida or other for these attacks without first doing some homework at our end.
We must take strong actions so as to send a messege that such attacks though cannot be acertained but will not be tolerated henseforth.
I am following u on ur blog and twitter for the past two days… Able to get latest updates while at work. Keeping my fingers crossed… Hope that Mumbai will get back to normalcy soon…
Great effort. praying for the best for our Nation .Salute
Even though I am in South Mumbai, quite far from where all this happened. I can’t even imagine what it must be like to be so close to what was happening.
I got an aunt near Nariman Building and my mom mentioned that then she called up this aunt to ask if everything was okay, she could hear gunshots over the phone. Sent a chill through me. Must have been quite scary.
Am glad the Taj is still standing and that it didn’t get blown up.
Thanks for capturing these pictures.
Its a very shameful act by Pakistan (if not for directly sponsoring then atleast for breeding such cowards).
Twitter and Flickr has emerged as the major mediums for information apart from the news channels.
Thanks for taking those pics and posting updates on Twitter and Flickr, i have also blogged a couple of pics taken by you and tried to make a compilation and summarizing the Mumbai Attacks.
heard that the terror has ended in Taj…
[...] 29, 2008 by Arun Shanbhag Continued from Mumbai Blasts: Day 2 Mumbai Blasts: Day 1 Picture Update from ~ : around 7:30 am Indian Time; Saturday Nov 29th Follow [...]
[...] 29, 2008 by Arun Shanbhag Continued from Mumbai Blasts: Day 2 Mumbai Blasts: Day 1 Picture Update from ~ 9:15 am Indian Time; Saturday Nov 29th Follow my [...]
[...] (Photo courtesy: Arun Shanbhag. For more pictures, visit: Arun Shanbhag on WordPress.) [...]
Brave effort .. Arun … !
[...] photo posts Mumbai Blasts: Taj Burning; More pics from terrorist killing Mumbai Blasts: Day 2 Mumbai Blasts: Day 3, Mop Up at the [...]
Quite some pics! You were really close. Glad that you and family are OK.
Arun Says:
THanks VIneet:
M, I and the rest of our extended family are all safe – amazingly!
Regards to KVNR
[...] Arun Shanbhag Mumbaikars Reclaim Beloved City Continued from Mumbai Blasts: Mop up at the Taj Mumbai Blasts: Day 2 Mumbai Blasts: Day 1 Picture Update from ~ 8:45 am Indian Time; Sunday Nov 30th from the Leopold [...]
thank you for your extraordinary images and recount of the horrible goings on in Mumbai.
May there be real peace soon!
Stay safe
Bless you and your family
Agree with D , but first destroy the homes of all the terrorists involved in the attack.
Hello,
I would like like to share the words of a placard I saw on NDTV couple of days ago. This placard was held by a man standing outside the majestic Taj, bruised and burned.
“Mr Terrorist: I am still alive, what will you do?
My Politician: I am still alive, despite you”
This man could not put his thoughts in a better way. We have had enough and I think the politicians of India need to be made to work for their astronomical wages.
Jai hind
Arun, I hope you are safe and want you to know I’m thinking of you and your family. Thanks for letting us know what is going on.
Ellen:
Many THanks – got a few minutes break and saw your comment come across. Lets chat when this crisis is over; In the midst of all this, I’m still trying to keep up with my running.
Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving.
badhai citizen journalist. i saw your pic on your site. very effective.
goood jobbb…
[...] twitter [5] mumbai-blasts-day-1 [6] mumbai-blasts-day-2 [7] [...]
yes
Superb photographic commentary on the carnage and the bounceback. You are as much a hero as the others. I read about your pics in the Hindu today and decided to visit this site. I must say it was a revelation.
[...] Mumbai blasts Saturday, 29 November 2008 18:35 — monado In Mumbai, Arun Shanbhag is taking photos and making notes; but he’s not releasing them until the police operation has moved on, in order not to give [...]
[...] Mumbai Blasts: Day 2 [...]
Arun Ji,
I saw this write up just yesterday, those three days were the most horrendous times. I couldn’t help myself from crying all the time.
The attacks were so hideous. I am genuinely speechless about it. Me and my husband were glued to the TV all the time.
One of the three officers( Late.Mr.Ashok Kamte)was the former police chief of Kolhapur,MH (my hometown).I have seen him in person. One of my classmates provided him Physical Therapy for shoulder pain in his Gym. He always told us how he was in awe of his charismatic persona.
I can recall to this day, during the Ganesh Visarjan ceremony how a glance on his part was copious enough to pacify the raucous crowd of youngsters.
When I learnt about his death I mourned as if for a close relative, so ghastly was the impact of the attack !
The pictures in your post made me grieve even more.
Though Mumbai has stood up again and may be back to habitual routine. The catastrophic bereavement of those wretched families will always haunt them. Their loved ones have departed them for life.
Will this ever end ? I think no one has an answer to it.
Manasi
Seattle,WA