Wake up and strike terrorism with an iron hand, say Bollywood’s stars shocked by the brazen terror attack that targeted Mumbai’s poshest areas. From Hema Malini, who worries about her daughters, to Bipasha Basu, who narrowly missed the Vile Parle blast, this terror strike has shaken them all.

Bipasha Basu: It’s shocking and scary. We’re going through a very disturbing and inhuman phase. On Wednesday night, I travelled on the highway two minutes after the Vile Parle blast. There was mayhem on the roads.

John’s (John Abraham) aunt, who works at the Taj (Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotels), reached home at 7 a.m. Thursday. I wonder where and when it will end.

Shveta Salve: Please send me Raj Thackeray’s number, if you can find it. I don’t know where he is when we need him. We want him to go and save ‘Amchi Mumbai’ along with his MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) men.

After all they are the ’sons of the soil’, aren’t they? The army, the commandos who are right now battling to save Mumbai are not all ‘Marathi Manoos’, are they? I wonder why they should risk their lives for us!

Hema Malini: I think the Mumbai police rose to the occasion. It is very sad that we lost some brave officers. Hats off to the army for rescuing people. It’s really sad that Mumbai has become so unsafe. I wait with my heart in my mouth until Esha and Ahana are home. We desperately need more security.

Shilpa Shetty: I had an early morning shoot Thursday so I went to sleep early. I had no clue about what happened in my city until someone called from London to ask if I was alright. That’s when I switched on the TV and quickly made calls to friends who live in town.

Raveena Tandon: We were in a restaurant in south Mumbai having dinner with friends when we started getting calls to leave immediately. We still waited. But then a policeman called and advised us to go home.

We headed home in groups and stayed on the phone till each of us reached safely. It’s time for the corrupt politicians to wake up. Stop thinking of your vote banks and think of what’s happening to the country.

Vishal Bhardwaj: My “Kaminey” unit was lucky. We were shooting a minute’s distance away from the Taj and Oberoi hotels. We had to quickly gather our stuff and flee.

Shabana Azmi: I was on the phone with a friend in London when she asked me to switch on the TV. It’s a diabolic war waged on our city and country. This isn’t the time to place blame.

We need to maintain peace and communal harmony and cooperate with the police. Our condolences to police officers who sacrificed their lives. Terrorism should be struck down with an iron hand.

It makes me sad and angry that Mumbai residents are soft targets for such attacks. It’s an unsettling feeling, especially since we seem not equipped to deal with it. This is an open war against humanity.

Celina Jaitley: I was at the Four Seasons hotel in Worli when the attacks happened. Till 3 a.m. Thursday we remained close to the exits and then we went up to our rooms. I got calls from friends and my security head to stay put. Is this really happening to our wonderful city?

Iqbal Khan: Mujahideen is such a sure and strong word. I’m sure they don’t even know the meaning.

Arshad Warsi: I was on my way back from Panchgani Wednesday night. The explosion at Vile Parle happened 15-20 minutes after I passed by that area. I trust the police and army. They’ll sort it out. Nothing can stop Mumbai residents from getting back to normal. But we need to exercise more caution.

Sammir Dattani: Five friends and I had a table booked at the Oberoi hotel for dinner. We were just a stone’s throw away from the hotel when I changed my mind because I had an early morning flight. That’s when we heard a loud explosion in the hotel. Before we could react, all hell broke loose. We quickly drove off.

Gul Panag: I don’t know how my comments will be taken by you but this had to happen and is not a complete surprise. Me and you only take notice of terror when it enters the malls or the hotels. But if the same thing happens in the slums we are ok with it. This is a much larger issue than it looks.

Have you ever taken into consideration the Islamic population of India? It’s in the region of 18 to 20%. The figures keep on varying. Do you know what percent of Islamic population is living below the poverty line? It’s 40%.

I am not a fundamentalist but I am looking at a much bigger picture. There are certain segments of the society which have not got its due, whether you agree or not. But if you look at the demographics, you’ll understand.

Whatever the population of Muslims in India, is that population proportionate and reflect in the jobs of this country? When people are poor and have no where to go, they have no choice but to turn into radicals. I hope my views and comments make people understand the broader picture.

Vatsal Seth: Right now there is so much of anger in me that I cannot help my own citizens in the time of crisis. There are couple of my friend’s brothers and sisters trapped inside the hotel so I am really messed up in my mind. I couldn’t sleep last night.

Anil Kapoor: It’s the worst ever attack to take place in India. But I am in no mood to talk about this incident because I want the police, the army and the government to answer the questions to what has happened.

Vidya Malvade: Mumbai needs to change since a very long time and now such incidents are becoming a regular nuisance to all of us. I can’t understand how we as politicians or people can’t do to stop this act of terror.

This is becoming something like a habit for Mumbai. I am so sad today that people are dying left right and centre. I am not angry but helpless that I can’t go out there and stop people from being killed.

There are bunch of people who come on a boat and blow things up, what kind of a security or intelligence are we talking about? Mumbai will bounce back today or tomorrow itself but that’s not the point. The point is that somewhere something needs to be done with our security system.

Anjori Alagh: I was pretty close to the Taj hotel yesterday as I had to travel in town by 4pm. I couldn’t travel to Andheri where I live and am now at a friends house in South Mumbai. The entire area is sealed off and for once I think that the city of Mumbai has changed.

What’s scary is the fact that people coming in boats with no security or patrol in the sea, get down at the Gateway and enter with guns and grenades in the Taj, Trident and Oberoi and create havoc.

It does raise a question on the security, but having said that, we do have security in all our hotels but it’s not up to the mark. I mean, I can’t see many CCTV cameras outside the hotels or in the nearby vicinity.

Every Indian is concerned and I am hoping that we as Indians make an effort to increase the security of our country. I hope we learn something from this so that we don’t turn vulnerable again. We really need to fight back these terrorists. They should be killed as ruthlessly as they are killing innocent people.

Minissha Lamba: The city of Mumbai is extremely resilient. It’s a survivor city. An attack on our city is an attack on our country. I don’t know whether it’s a lapse of security which has lead to such an incident.

I mean, how far can the police force protect such a big city like Mumbai? They are doing the best they can to save our brothers and sisters today. It could easily have been me in one of the hotels.

This is like an eye opener and has taken the terrorist activity to the next level where they are taking hostages now. This is the scariest day in Mumbai I’ve ever witnessed.

Arjun Rampal: It is ridiculous that we are experiencing such events in our city. Every Mumbaikar has the right to ask the government the questions about our city and country’s security.

How the terrorists got in so easily and create so much damage is unbelievable but has to be answerable by our politicians. We are all upset but the anger should not be directed towards innocent people.

We do have to put our concerns about the security and intelligence lapse to the government. There is a lot of corruption in our country and needs to be addressed immediately, like why aren’t there good enough CCTV cameras in our city?

The government cannot come down upon our city and nor can these terrorists. We are only going to grow stronger day by day.

Eesha Koppikhar: I am fine but in no mood to talk about what has been happening in Mumbai. What’s happening is very sad and I hope the law and order situation comes under control soon.

Celina Jaitley: I’ve been stuck at the Four Seasons hotel in Worli which had been cordoned off for security and had to stay the night there. I had come for dinner with colleagues of my father here. Suddenly there was chaos.

We heard all the major hotels were being targetted and being a major expatriate hotel, I started getting phone calls to stay put where I was with my friends and security head of my bodyguards company.

The hotel staff was incredibly nice in keeping everyone calm and quite. I started getting calls from my friends in London and Ireland and from my father in Lebanon who were watching all the carnage on TV.

We were up till 3 am last night close to safe exits till we finally went up to the rooms. I was meant to go to Trident for dinner but some gut feeling made me change my mind I am still shaken and scared and will head back home as soon as its safe.

My rakhi brother is heading the NSG commandoes operation. They haven’t come out yet. Aashish Chowdhary’s sister and brother in law are missing at Trident. Our city is falling apart. I have one word for these terrorists - “We are not scared and will fight back”.

Mugdha Godse: I don’t know what are the consequences that will come out once this dark day is over but I think people, whether it’s us as civilians or the government, we should pull up our socks.

Right now I am just praying for the betterment of all those who are in the hotels and are injured and have died. I am in a shock state of mind. Our city of dreams is no more the same.

In today’s time, one has to take care of themselves and I am sure we all do and I am sure all those who are trapped in the hotels will do the same. We Indians haven’t learnt how to bow down.

Source

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The Yomiuri Shimbun

Some of the Japanese who witnessed the Mumbai terrorist attacks returned to Narita Airport on Friday with tales of horror, confusion and brushes with death.

A 39-year-old company employee who was on a business trip and stayed at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel said: "I could have been in the hotel [when it was attacked]. I was lucky to get out."

While eating dinner at an Italian restaurant near the hotel at about 10 p.m. Wednesday, the company employee heard what sounded like fireworks exploding, he said.

When he returned to the hotel a few minutes later, he noticed that no bellboys came out of the lobby.

"[I heard people yelling] 'Watch out! Don't go into the hotel,'" he said. "I stood outside the hotel with other guests who told me it was a terrorist attack and bombs had been placed inside the hotel."

Afterward, he was picked up by a colleague who was living in Mumbai.

The man was taken to another hotel about 20 minutes from the Taj Mahal Palace, he said. He canceled his work for the following day and took an evening flight to Japan. He left his suitcase, which contained work documents and materials, in his room at the Taj Mahal Palace.

"I didn't have any prior information [about the risk of terrorism]. I just can't believe this could happen in an economic center," he said.

Kei Kuriwaki, a food manufacturing company employee of Suginami Ward, Tokyo, said he stayed at a hotel about 200 meters from the Trident hotel, where Islamic terrorists took many hostages.

Kuriwaki, 50, said he also heard dozens of gunshots and explosions during the day Thursday.

He also said he saw a man who appeared to be a hostage seeking help in a window on an upper floor of the Trident hotel.

On Thursday, Kuriwaki could not leave his hotel, so he contacted his family in Japan with cell phone e-mails.

"I was worried about whether I could get back to Japan up until right before I left [India]. I was staying at a hotel for foreigners--I could have been attacked," Kuriwaki said.

For others, however, the ordeal is far from over as they remain stuck in the city.

Emiko Sato, 37, a tour conductor staying at a Mumbai hotel 500 meters from the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, had a sleepless night Thursday because of noise from the attacks that killed more than 120 people.

After dawn broke, however, the city center became eerily silent, she said.

When Sato left her hotel at about 7 a.m. Friday, the streets were blocked off by police and military forces, but she could see a fire burning inside the Taj Mahal Palace and smoke emanating from the building.

"I can't get any information about Japanese, and I haven't received even a phone call from the Foreign Ministry to confirm my safety," Sato said. "I have to stay [in this hotel] because all of the terrorists haven't been arrested."

===

Body to be returned to Japan

Meanwhile, the body of Hisashi Tsuda, a 38-year-old Mitsui Marubeni Liquefied Gas Co. employee who was killed in one of hotel attacks, will be flown to Narita Airport on Saturday morning.

Representatives from Mitsui Marubeni informed Tsuda's parents of his death Thursday night at their home in Maniwa, Okayama Prefecture. They also told them that Tsuda's body would arrive at the airport at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday.

Tsuda's younger brother and his mother left Tokyo for India on Friday morning.

Source

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See Amrita Rao in completely different look.Miss Players is launching its Winter Collection 2008.So they are promoting their collections through this beautiful bollywood actress

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An organization calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen has claimed responsibility for attacks in Mumbai Indiathat have killed at least 80 people and wounded over 250.

The group sent an email to news organizations claiming responsibility. Here’s part of the email they sent out:

You should know that your acts are not at all left unnoticed; rather we are closely keeping an eye on you and just waiting for the right time to execute your bloodshed. We are aware of your recent raids at Ansarnagar, Mograpada in Andheri and the harassment and trouble you created there for the Muslims

You threatened to murder them and your mischief went to such an extent that you even dared to abuse and insult Maulana Mahmood-ul-Hasan Qasmi and even misbehaved with the Muslim women and children there.

“If this is the degree your arrogance has reached, and if you think that by these stunts you can scare us, then let the Indian Mujahideen warn all the people of Mumbai that whatever deadly attacks Mumbaikars will face in future, their responsibility would lie with the Mumbai ATS and their guardians - Vilasrao Deshmukh and R R Patil. You are already on our hit-list and this time very very seriously.

The Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility for bombings in Jaipur in May.

More when we have it.

Update: unconfirmed reports suggest that the Deccan Mujahideen is related to Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Harkat ul Jihad al Islami, with possible support from Pakistan’s Inter-Service Intelligence.

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Flames and smoke gush out of the historic historic Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai on November 27, 2008, one of the sites of attacks by alleged militant gunmen. Up to 100 people were killed and around 100 more wounded in coordinated attacks by gunmen in Mumbai, media reported, with two five-star hotels among the targets of gunmen armed with powerful assault rifles and grenades.

Army personnel take position at the Gateway of India that stands in front of Taj Hotel in Mumbai November 27, 2008. At least 101 people have been killed in attacks by gunmen in Mumbai, police said on November 27, 2008.
Flames rush out of the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai on November 27, 2008. Up to 100 people were killed and around 100 more wounded in coordinated attacks by gunmen in Mumbai, media reported, with two five-star hotels among the targets of gunmen armed with powerful assault rifles and grenades

At least 101 people, including a foreign tourist and a top counter-terror officer, were killed and about 287 injured as terrorists struck in the heart of Mumbai in planned and synchronised attacks.

Terrorists were reported to be holding people hostage in two five-star hotels, the Taj Intercontinental and Trident (formerly Oberoi) facing the waterfront across the Arabian Sea, and the Madam Cama Hostel.

Three top police officials, including Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare, were among the nine policemen killed in gunfights with the terrorists, police confirmed.

Mumbai Police Commissioner Hasan Ghafoor said the attacks were suspected to be "coordinated terrorist acts", and added that automatic weapons like AK-47 and AK-56 and semi-automatic rifles as well as grenades were apparently used.

Maharashtra government spokesman Bhushan Gagarani confirmed 78 people were killed and 287 injured, many of them grievously.

He said two terrorists were killed in gun battles with police while nine were held.

It appeared that small groups of heavily armed terrorists sneaked into busy public places, mostly in south Mumbai, in the dead of the night spreading panic in the city.

Many of the locations targeted, mostly in upscale south Mumbai, were favourite destinations of foreign tourists, like the Leopold Restaurant in Colaba. The restaurant was riddled with bullet holes and there were blood on the floor and shoes left by fleeing customers.

Maharashtra Director General of Police A N Roy said: "At least seven places have been attacked. The figure could be eight.

"The terrorists have gone in and fired indiscriminately at certain places. They are still holed up in three places and gun-battles have been on (with security forces)."

Five people were killed in a bomb blast targeting a taxi in Vile Parle. The taxi was blown to pieces, police said.

Source

Photos: AFP and Reuters

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Titanic Two - Jack Returns. Scheduled for release January 12th, 2009. Jack is found by oceanographers and returns from the deep sea to encounter a strange new world.

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This includes property damage and expenses incurred related to the accident such as cleanup and industry losses. Many of these accidents involve casualties which obviously cannot be measured in dollar terms. Each life lost is priceless and is not factored into the equation.

1. Chernobyl 

Loss: $200 Billion 

On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed the costliest accident in history. The Chernobyl disaster has been called the biggest socio-economic catastrophe in peacetime history. 50% of the area of Ukraine is in some way contaminated. Over 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled while 1.7 million people were directly affected by the disaster. The death toll attributed to Chernobyl, including people who died from cancer years later, is estimated at 125,000. The total costs including cleanup, resettlement, and compensation to victims has been estimated to be roughly $200 Billion. The cost of a new steel shelter for the Chernobyl nuclear plant will cost $2 billion alone. The accident was officially attributed to power plant operators who violated plant procedures and were ignorant of the safety requirements needed.