Scribes relieved after 59-hour ordeal of being on the job

Mumbai, Nov 29 (UNI) As one of the worst terrorist attacks that shook the city finally ended today, it brought relief not just to the common man but to the scores of mediapersons who had stood at the three venues -- Hotel Taj Mahal, Trident and Nariman House, where the hostages were holed up, unwaveringly for 59 hours.

The media fratenity, who were in the line of fire doing their jobs of reporting the gory events which unfolded at these three places, were today able to go back to their offices after the completion of 'Operation Cyclone' at the Taj.

The journalists had to cope up with different kinds of problems during the siege and even risked their lives as bullets from the terrorists flew past them. A reporter from Star News, who had gone to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) to cover the incident where two terrorists were firing at the passengers indiscriminately on Wednesay night, was lucky to escape unhurt when a bullet passed by near his ear.

Another reporter escaped unhurt when a terrorist fired from Trident hotel, while he was talking to police personnel outside the hotel. A bullet came and hit the police personnel to whom he was talking.

Terrorists had hurled hand grenades towards mediapersons at Gateway of India from the Taj Mahal hotel, in which one journalist was hit by a splinter. This morning, they had resorted to firing at mediapersons.

Not only mediapersons but their family members would also be happy. While the reporters were covering the saga, they spent tense moments at home watching the battle in their living rooms on the TV sets. Some of the parents of young journalists were seen sitting in front of TV set watching news channel to make sure that nothing unfortunate has happened to their near and dear ones.

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