Zeenews Bureau

Mumbai, Nov 26: Coordinated terror strikes in at least eight places in South Mumbai left over 50 dead, including the Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare, on Wednesday night. The number of injured is believed to be in hundreds. All the blasts have taken place in the vicinity of posh hotels in the area, including the Taj and the Trident.

The Mumbai ATS chief who had entered the Oberoi hotel along with fellow officers took 3 bullets from the terrorists’ fire. He succumbed to his injuries before he could be taken to the hospital. Two other officers Ashok Kamte and Vijay Salaskar have also been killed in the operations.

The incident of firing has taken place at the Chattrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), outside Café Leopold in Colaba, Nariman point and outside the Taj and the Tridient, (formely Oberoi) hotels.

The terror strike which began at 1033 PM at Chhatrapathi Shivaji Terminus(CST),formerly known as the Victoria Terminus(VT), claimed 10 lives in the premises of the station alone, police said.

30 persons have been injured at the CST. Commandoes have been rushed to the station. Firing is still on at the station.

Three persons were killed in a bomb explosion in a taxi on Mazegaon dockyard road and an equal number were gunned down at Taj Hotel. Another blast is also reported from the Mazgoan area. The victim in the hotel were its employees. Police and the terrorists are exchanging fire in as many 5 places in Mumbai, including in the Taj hotel, where four terrorists are reportedly still holed in.

The lobby of the Oberoi hotel was on fire and the hotel has been evacuated, eyewitnesses said.

But two terrorists still remain holed up inside the building and have taken about 40 people hostage. A major operation is being planned for the rescue of those still inside.

The Army has been called in to assist the police, while an NSG team is also on its way to Mumbai.

Some people were injured in the firing in Oberoi hotel, and taken to a nearby hospital in police vans and ambulance. Firing was also reported in Taj hotel.

Firing was also reported at Colaba, Nariman Point and near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminal, formerly Victoria Terminus and it was still continuing.

Firing was also reported at Cama Hospital in south Mumbai, police said, adding that a blast was reported in a taxi under a flyover in suburban Vile Parle.

Director General of Police A N Roy said at least two terrorists were holed up inside the Trident(Oberoi) Hotel where firing was on.

RAF commandoes are in action at the taj.

More than 50 dead bodies are at the St George’s Hospital alone.

Meanwhile, Railway authorities have stopped trains going to CST in view of the firing incidents. Extra forces have also been rushed to the station.

Blasts have been reported from Majhgoan and Vile Parley, outside the BMC office, Nariman house and outside Centaur hotel and at Colaba. All the five deaths have been reported from Vile Parley.

The blast in Colaba was due to an exploding BP petrol pump.

Maharashtra DGP A N Roy said tonight's attack in "at least seven places" is a "terror strike."

High alert has been sounded in Mumbai, and the police has asked the public to stay indoors.

Meanwhile the PM has been briefed about the terror attack, and has met the leader of opposition LK Advani over the issue. The Prime Minister and the Congress president Sonia Gandhi have spoken to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh over the incident.

This is the first time that a terror strike of this scale, using firing to supplement blasts, have been mounted on a major Indian city outside of Kashmir.