By IANS,
Mumbai : A doctor, who survived to tell his tale of horror at the iconic Taj hotel where terrorists struck Wednesday night, Saturday heaped praise on the Indian commandos who rescued the hostages.
P.N. Vaswani said: “I have to say that the commandos have done a perfect job… very professionally.”
“I can never forget that night,” Vaswani, who was rescued Thursday, told Times Now channel.
“I had gone to see a patient at the hotel. I was coming out of the premises when I suddenly heard a lot of firing and heard some people screaming ‘Retreat’.
“Thinking it may have been a gang war, I immediately went back to the room and called my wife saying that I was at room number 912 of the hotel and explained the situation,” Vaswani said.
Frantic calls to all “influential” people, including an assistant commissioner of police (ACP) were of little help.
“The ACP told me that we will be out soon. But the ambience at that point of time was scary. It was quiet with just dogs howling… I was numb, speechless with fear. It was like I had a blackout,” Vaswani said, adding that his hands still trembled at the mere thought of that night.
When the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos arrived the next day, Vaswani said that they were scared to open the door.
“After they (NSG commandos) introduced themselves, they asked us how many of us were there. I said four – the nurse, patients and I. They then asked for my identity card and the patient for his passport.
“Only when they were satisfied, they brought us out from the fire exit, escorting us through the lobby. But I can’t forget the sight as we were walking out – there was blood, bodies and shards of glass all around,” he recounted.
The rescued people were taken to Azad Maidan after which Vaswani went straight home.
“I went home straight and stayed with my family. It was an episode I can never forget. I am here today (Saturday) just to bring back my car which was parked near the Taj,” he said.
India’s longest terror drama that lasted just short of 59 hours ended dramatically Saturday as commandos from three agencies combined with clinical precision to eliminate three militants who had taken over the iconic Taj hotel and virtually held this commercial capital to ransom, killing 152 people and injuring 327.