Attacks in Mumbai, India

This is further to our last Update # 2 (see that here) on the situation with the attacks in Mumbai. This will be the last of our series of updates on this matter.

The siege on Mumbai’s two hotels is now over.

The clean-up process by the authorities is now underway.

From what I hear, the damage to the hotels has been substantial.

The toll of the loss in lives is estimated to be at around 195 with injured in excess of 300.

The process of healing will now begin.

Its easy to repair buildings.

Its easy to assign blame and investigate causes.

But filling in the voids of the families affected will be a long drawn out process.

Our wishes and thoughts are with all those who have lost a loved one.

It is hard to digest that this took place so close to home, given that many we knew or worked with in our daily lives at these hotels lost their lives.

I cannot pretend to comprehend the pain their families have, but we do share the loss and will honour their memories in our prayers.

After my last message, there was an outpouring of responses with support, of condolence, of comradeship, of shock, of love.

Friends and strangers alike wrote from all over the world with messages, some a few lines long to some being long letters.

Each one, without exception, gave us a feeling of great hope and a feeling of being a valued part of the global travel industry family that will stand strong and firm no matter where one is.

The last few hours have been filled with news shows interviewing society’s bigwigs. The next few weeks will be filled with introspection, with questions being asked and answers being demanded.

We will no doubt see our gutless, soulless pathetic lot of political leadership use this event for political gain. Politics is in the fabric of India and we have long chosen to be led rather than lead. Words cannot express the intensity of emotions that is flowing through the people of India.

Words cannot express the anger we have against the people who lead us.

Words cannot express my personal anger at the educated & influential citizens of India who sit back and watch as our country is raped by our leadership.

Words cannot express my personal shame at being one of those who chose to be complacent.

In addition to the global travel fraternity, this communication goes out ot many Indians in India and outside who are in a position to make a change.

Indians who either hold power in business, in government or simply in their communities.

Enough is enough.

It is time we stood up and took back our country. We today as Indians insult the memories of those who gave their lives in the freedom struggle that allow us the privileges we enjoy and abuse.

It is now time that we wake up and do something.

Its time to take India back and make us proud of being Indian. Its time to let our leadership know that their mediocrity and incompetence will no longer be tolerated.

If you as a citizen of India want to help to make this start, send me a mail and we shall share our thoughts in the weeks to come.

To our other friends all over the world, the situation on the ground is calm. life is returning to normal in Mumbai and other parts of the country.

The rebuilding process has started.

If you have any questions or need more information, please do not hesitate to call us.

If you have any questions, you may call our Duty Manager @ the 24 hour emergency hotline +91- 99 11 266 277 

As always, we at Creative Travel put client safety first.

Please be assured that we would not do anything to compromise that.

More will follow if the situation changes.. 
  
Regards

Rajeev Kohli  Director of Marketing, Creative Travel, India