Survivor recounts horror at Taj on 26/11

In a week it will be a year since the 26/11 terror attacks convulsed Mumbai, but for the survivors the blood-curdling moments of their lives are etched in their minds forever.

In a week it will be a year since the 26/11 terror attacks convulsed Mumbai, but for the survivors the blood-curdling moments of their lives are etched in their minds forever.

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31-year-old Bhisham Mansukhani, one such survivor, who came face-to-face with death, feels he was lucky enough to have escaped the bullets of the four terrorists who turned Hotel Taj into a war zone for three days when time seemed to have come to a standstill.

"The memories of that day are still fresh in my mind as if it all happened yesterday. I am surprised how I escaped to see this day," says Mansukhani.

Recounting how the horror unfolded before him during the toughest 12 hours of his life, he said, "I was at the wedding of a friend when firing began. We took cover under tables and then sought refuge in a room waiting to be saved."

After no help arrived on the night of November 26, Mansukhani and others, who were huddled together in a room, mustered courage and tried to escape.

"One of the terrorists noticed the group and opened fire killing the man in front of me and forcing us beat a hasty retreat into the comparative safety of the room from where the NSG commandos ultimately rescued us," he said.

"I still cannot believe that I escaped death by a whisker. Though we all move on in life there are things which stay with you, these memories.... good or bad."

Mansukhani, who was on the roof-top of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower that ghastly night of November 26, said he had never even imagined that he would encounter terrorists one day in his life.

"It appeared like a battlefield along the border with bullets flying all over and grenades exploding at regular intervals. It was mayhem all around. These terrorists do not deserve to breathe on this earth," Mansukhani, who works as a freelance journalist, says.

Mansukhani has taken lessons from a city-based NGO on how to deal with disasters.

"I attended one of the seminars organized by an NGO. They train citizens on how to keep their calm and not panic during disasters like terror attacks and floods. This has helped me great deal to cope with the trauma," he said.

The freelancer intends to do a disaster management course in the near future.

Mansukhani also wants the on-going trial of 26/11 perpetrators Ajmal Kasab and other conspirators to be completed before the first anniversary of the attacks.

"The entire world saw how those cowards thirsted for blood," he said.