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SINGAPORE : Several Singaporeans trapped in Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel when the attack happened arrived back home on Friday.
A tight embrace from Carol's Tan's husband upon her arrival at Changi Airport said it all.
The StanChart banker was staying in the Taj Mahal Hotel when the terrorists struck.
She recounted: "There were a lot of gunshots. We did not know what was happening, so we just waited. But there was a lot of communication from my office people. They were telling us what is happening, so we were assured that they are releasing people floor by floor, but it is very slow."
Another guest, Y H Chow, was cooped in his room for eight nerve-wrecking hours, as he heard continuous gunshots outside.
He said: "The commandos came to clear the room and then we were escorted down and the Singapore embassy staff were waiting in the lobby for me. There was a lot of blood. The bodies were all cleared obviously and (it) was dark (everywhere)..."
Meanwhile, a group of Australian tourists staying near the Taj said the event was the most harrowing experience of their lives.
Tim Edward said: "We were walking down the street when it happened, we just heard this rat-tat-tat sound. We thought it was firecrackers going off. Then (all the people on) the street just started running...We took off, up into a stairwell and hid up for what seemed like an eternity. And we snuck from back streets back into our hotels and kept hearing bombs going off."
Most flights leaving Mumbai are full as worried travellers flee the city. - CNA/ms
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