Bombay burns again

Bombay burns again. Like most people, still cannot come to terms with what is happening. And been hearing the same question everywhere – is nobody safe? is no place safe?

This morning on the way to the airport, almost no vehicles on the road, never seen roads so empty at 9 n the morning. and at the airport, indignant voices – “India does not deserve to be a democracy”…. “i think only military rule will work”… “why are we so soft on terrorists? shoot them on the streets openly!”

How did so many kilos of RDX get into the city without anyone knowing? How did over forty terrorists carrying AK 47s walk into VT, Taj, the streets without anyone knowing?

My heart goes out to those dead and injured in this attack – cops killed in the line of duty, innocent bystanders, hotel staff – they did not have rooms to get into and hide safely in…

Finally, helplines are open – check out the Mumbai Help blog and contribute if you have news or can help in any way.

From the blog:
Some helpline numbers:
JJ Hospital +91 22 23739031
St George’s Hospital – +91 22 22620240
Mumbai Police’s Helpline Numbers
Taj helpline numbers for info about people stuck inside – +91 -22-66574322, +91-22-66574372, local toll free 1-800-111-825
Trident Hotel Helpline : 011-23890606, 011-23890505, 9810956888 | Dir Corp Comm, Oberoi Hotels
For Info on terrorist cars – call DG Control Room – 9122 22023366
Send an sms -type BLOOD and send it to 96000 97000
Info on Terrorist cars – call 9122 24937755/24937747
US helpline 888-407-4747 Brazilian help line 9820686143 (C) CNN IBN FA 1-613-996-8885 from Canada, 1-800-387-3124 E
For UK

And also read Sonia Faleiro’s Children of Bombay. I often think about how much I love the city and how I would rather live here than any other city in India. And almost simultaneously, I also reflect on how the city is no place to live in – no place for children to play and grow up in, no place for the elderly to take long walks in, no place for harried professionals looking a moment of peace in… But where do we go? Which place is truly safe?