Dilip Mehta, a 26/11 Mumbai terror attack survivor, recalls the terrifying night at the Taj Mahal Palace and how it changed his life forever. On the night of the assault, he was attending a programme in one of the banquet halls, when terror struck and the hotel came under siege
Dilip Mehta. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
SEVENTEEN years on, Dilip Mehta still remembers every detail of the night that changed Mumbai forever. A survivor of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Mehta spoke to mid-day.com about his ordeal. On the night of the assault, he was at the Taj Mahal Palace, attending a programme in one of the banquet halls, when terror struck and the hotel came under siege.
"In 2008, I was invited to an event at the Rendezvous Banquet Hall on the 22nd floor of the Taj Mahal Hotel. I still remember every single detail of the day. When I took the elevator up that evening, I could have never imagined that it would not be available to bring me down 10 hours later. Everything changed at precisely 9.42 pm that day," said Mehta.
After attending the event, Mehta was about to leave the banquet hall and take the lift down when a security personnel stopped him and others, warning that there was some kind of situation in the lobby.
Mehta and those present in the room were initially told that there was some gang-related conflict inside the hotel.
"As a safety measure, we were told to remain inside the banquet hall. Within 20 minutes, it became clear that this was not a gang war but a terror attack carried out by 10 Pakistani terrorists who had entered Mumbai and were unleashing chaos, particularly inside the Taj, where I happened to be that night," said Mehta.
He and others immediately took cover. He also said that the main doors were locked, chairs were placed as barriers, and several people from the adjacent dining hall joined them.
"I was deeply traumatised. The sound of gunfire and explosions just yards away made us believe that none of us would survive. I fainted two or three times from fear and shock."
For nearly 10 hours, Mehta and others remained confined, hiding under tables, uncertain of what would happen next. Finally, around 3.30–3.45 am, everything fell silent, and Mehta and others were guided out through a rear exit staircase.
"About 32 to 34 of us were rescued unharmed. It was one of the most harrowing experiences of my life. I needed six months of counseling afterwards because I was completely shattered, waking up at 2 am, unable to sleep, reliving the events repeatedly. But I gathered the strength to speak today, and I sincerely hope that such an incident never occurs again from anywhere, including Pakistan," he said.
Mehta stated that in this new chapter of his life, his purpose is to spread compassion, empathy, love, and boundless happiness across the world.
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