26/11 anniversary remembrance Mumbai attacks victims heroes

Every year, the 26/11 Mumbai attacks anniversary draws out memories that remain both raw and enduring. From CST to the Taj Mahal Palace, from the Trident to Nariman House, the events unfolded over sixty continuous hours of gunfire, explosions, confusion, grief and unexpected courage. Those hours were marked by extraordinary human behaviour on both sides of the spectrum — cruelty carried out by the attackers and bravery shown by civilians and security personnel.

The protagonists of this tragedy include the thousands of ordinary people who were caught in the crossfire, the emergency workers who risked their lives, the police officers who confronted trained terrorists with limited protection, and the commandos who fought room to room inside burning buildings. The antagonists were clear too: the ten Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists who launched the assault, the planners based across the border who directed operations in real time, and the ideologues whose extremism shaped the entire mission.

As India marks another year of remembrance, the narrative of 26/11 remains deeply intertwined with personal stories of loss, collective resilience and unresolved questions about accountability.

Human cost across CST, Taj, Trident, Nariman House

The scale of violence during the attacks was unprecedented in modern Indian history. At Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Ajmal Kasab and Ismail Khan opened fire on commuters, killing men, women and children in minutes. CST staff, railway police and bystanders tried to pull the wounded out of harm’s way, even as bullets ricocheted off metal pillars. Cameraman Gajendra Singh recorded some of the earliest footage, capturing fear in real time before moving to assist police personnel.

At Leopold Café, popular with locals and tourists, the attackers Shoaib and Nazir fired indiscriminately. At the Taj Mahal Palace, the duo of Abu Ali and Fahadullah stormed the heritage building, setting off grenades and trapping guests, hotel staff and firefighters in smoke-filled corridors. At the Trident, Abdul Rehman and Abu Umar engaged hotel workers and security staff who struggled to shield guests from terrorists armed with assault weapons. At Nariman House, the Jewish outreach centre, terrorists Babar and Nasir held Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg and Rivka Holtzberg hostage before commandos intervened in a high-risk extraction.

Across these locations, the victims came from diverse backgrounds — local railway passengers, foreign business travellers, hotel workers, policemen, vendors and families out for an evening. They were united only by the misfortune of being present when the militants executed their operation.

Police, rail staff, hotel workers, firefighters, civilians

Amid chaos, stories of courage emerged almost instantly. Railway staff at CST shepherded terrified commuters out of exit gates. Doctors in nearby hospitals prepared emergency rooms within minutes. Firefighters repeatedly entered burning wings of the Taj and Trident, lifting elderly guests over debris and guiding them down smoke-filled staircases.

Mumbai Police personnel confronted the attackers even when outgunned. Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble displayed remarkable courage during the capture of Ajmal Kasab, absorbing bullets while preventing his escape. Joint Commissioner Hemant Karkare led Anti-Terrorism Squad officers into Cama Hospital, where he, Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar made the ultimate sacrifice.

Civilians also became first responders. Taxi drivers offered free rides to hospitals. Residents opened their homes to strangers stranded by road closures. Hotel workers at the Taj and Trident guided guests through service corridors, refusing to abandon their posts.

These protagonists — unnamed porters at CST, receptionists at luxury hotels, railway guards, doctors, nurses and citizen volunteers — shaped the city’s immediate response. Their actions prevented an even higher toll.

Command operations by NSG, MARCOS, Mumbai Police

Once the scale of the assault became clear, elite forces were mobilised. MARCOS teams first secured areas around the seafront. Mumbai Police Special Branch and crime branch units built perimeter control around hotels. NSG Black Cat commandos were airlifted in and quickly moved into the Taj, Trident and Nariman House.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan became a symbol of valour after leading the assault inside the Taj. His leadership and last stand remain among the most widely remembered moments of those sixty hours. At Nariman House, NSG commandos rappelled from helicopters to break the siege. At the Trident, teams deployed systematic room-clearing operations under sustained fire.

These security forces acted under severe pressure, navigating unfamiliar buildings, fires, multiple hostages and remote-triggered guidance transmitted to the terrorists from outside India. Their coordination with Mumbai Police personnel on the ground allowed large-scale evacuations that saved hundreds.

Lashkar operatives handlers planners across border

The antagonists behind the attacks were not only the ten terrorists on the ground. Intelligence investigations revealed the involvement of Lashkar-e-Taiba leadership figures such as Hafiz Saeed, operational commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and handlers like Sajid Mir, Zarar Shah and Abu Qahafa, who provided training, communication links and real-time instructions. From safe houses in Karachi, a team of controllers monitored news channels, guided the terrorists’ movements and encouraged extended sieges to maximise impact.

The operation relied on maritime infiltration, GPS devices, satellite phones, improvised explosive devices and detailed reconnaissance conducted earlier by operatives such as David Headley. These actions placed responsibility not just on the terrorists but on a wider network engaged in planning, logistics, surveillance and ideological indoctrination.

Enduring memory, resilience, pursuit, accountability

Year after year, the memory of 26/11 returns with candles at the Gateway of India, solemn ceremonies at police memorials and quiet reflection in households that lost loved ones. Survivors continue to deal with long-term trauma, though many have rebuilt their lives. Families of police officers and commandos look back with pride and sorrow intertwined.

Mumbai’s resilience, often described in almost mythical terms, rests on these individual stories. The city resumed its routines even before smoke cleared from the Taj dome, signalling that fear would not dictate its future. Yet the pursuit of accountability remains incomplete. Several planners remain outside India’s judicial reach. Diplomatic efforts continue to seek justice for actions that shaped global discussions on cross-border terrorism.

As another anniversary passes, focus remains on honouring victims, recognising heroism and reinforcing collective memory. The tragedy produced both unimaginable cruelty and extraordinary compassion. In marking this date, the country attempts not only to remember what happened but also to reaffirm the values that survived those sixty hours of darkness.