A city torn, humanity shaken

On November 26, 2008, Mumbai faced a series of coordinated terrorist attacks that lasted until November 29, marking one of the most devastating events in India's history. Ten militants from the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba carried out 12 shooting and bombing attacks across the city, targeting prominent locations such as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, the Oberoi Trident Hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, the Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital, Nariman House, and the Metro Cinema.

The assault resulted in the deaths of at least 174 people, including 20 security personnel and 26 foreign nationals, with over 300 individuals injured.

The attackers arrived by sea, hijacking an Indian fishing trawler to reach Mumbai's shores. Once ashore, they split into groups to execute their planned attacks.

The siege at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel was particularly prolonged, with hostages being held and extensive damage inflicted on the historic building. By the early morning of November 28, all sites except for the Taj Hotel had been secured by Mumbai Police and security forces. On November 29, India's National Security Guards (NSG) conducted Operation Black Tornado to neutralize the remaining attackers, culminating in the death of the last assailants at the Taj Hotel and bringing the attacks to an end.

The lone surviving attacker, Ajmal Kasab, was captured and later revealed that the attackers were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, corroborating initial claims from the Indian government. Pakistan later confirmed that Kasab was a Pakistani citizen.

The 26/11 attacks exposed significant lapses in India's security and intelligence apparatus, leading to widespread condemnation and a reevaluation of counter-terrorism strategies both domestically and internationally. The resilience and unity displayed by Mumbai's residents during and after the attacks became a testament to the city's enduring spirit in the face of adversity.

"We saw hell that day. But we also saw courage, " recalls Sushma Sharma, a retired nurse who tended to victims ofthe 26/11 attacks, her voice cracking as she revisits that night of fire, bullets, and unspeakable loss.