93 hostages rescued from terror-struck Trident-Oberoi hotel

Mumbai, Nov.28 : At least 93 hostages have been evacuated from the terror struck Trident-Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai, many of them being foreign nationals.

These people left in private cars and perhaps were advised not to talk to media at present. Some of the rescued carried their luggage having Canadian flags on them.

One of the evacuated men, who wore a chef's uniform, was carrying a six-month-baby and attracted everyone's attention here.

The latest release, which has taken place around 12.00 in the afternoon, could be possible after National Security Guard commandos carried out an assault on the premises, besides a nearby Jewish center and another hotel.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Hassan Gafoor earlier said that all hostages inside the Taj hotel have been evacuated. He didn't reveal if the terrorists inside the hotel have been killed.

Regarding terrorists holed up in the Oberoi hotel and Nariman House, Gafoor said NSG commandos were leading the operation and the situation would be brought under control soon.

"At least 12 terrorists had come to Mumbai from Gujarat," he said while adding "One NSG commando was seriously injured in the Taj Hotel operation.

Late at night, there was a major fire at the Trident hotel, where about 200 people have been trapped and terrorists exploded grenades that set the roof ablaze amid an exchange of gunfire.

Among the dead were six foreigners, 14 police personnel, a home guard jawan and 104 members of the public including several staff of the two hotels. Of the 327 injured, police personnel accounted for 26 and foreigners seven.

Earlier, at Nariman House, heavy gunfire was exchanged between NSG commandos and the terrorists, as the former air-dropped themselves from a helicopter onto the building's roof.

The Jewish centre was one of three places in the Mumbai where the forces are battling militants, more than 24 hours after the band of heavily armed terrorists have killed about 127 people in a well-coordinated attack.

Television reports showed the commandos taking up positions on the roof, as the building is in a crowded part of the city, making a frontal assault difficult.

Three fresh explosions rocked Nariman House early on Friday as security forces battled fiercely through the night to end the siege by heavily-armed terrorists.

As NSG commandos closed in on Nariman House, a Jewish residential complex in Colaba in south Mumbai, for a final assault, two explosions within a span of ten to 15 minutes slowed down their operation. A third explosion was heard at 4.47 a.m.

Director General of National Security Guard (NSG) J K Dutt told reporters that the operation to clean up the Nariman House was still going on. He added : "It is just a matter of time and it will end soon."

Dutt said the operations at Hotel Taj was by and large over with just one injured terrorist still holed-up in the building. "He has been injured and I think we will be able to mop up the operation there very quickly," he said.

ANI