'People got more and more agitated . . . it was a room of Chinese whispers'

ANDREW BETTINA was on a business trip to Mumbai and staying at the Taj Mahal when the gunmen struck

ANDREW BETTINA was on a business trip to Mumbai and staying at the Taj Mahal when the gunmen struck. This is his account of a night of terror.

"I was sitting in one of the Taj Mahal's bars at around 9pm, having a beer with some colleagues and deciding where to go for dinner, when we heard what sounded like a metal tray being dropped on the floor. We jumped at the noise, but thought nothing of it.

"Shortly after, we heard what was quite clearly gunfire, a short burst of five or six rounds, coming from the lobby, 10ft away.

"Hotel guests rushed into where we were sitting, and we dived behind chairs and tables for cover. The hotel's staff began to guide us away, but you could hear the sound of screams in the background, and the thunder of feet on marble floors as people ran for cover.

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"We were ushered into a restaurant on the first floor. After around 20 minutes we were led into a wood-panelled, marble-lined room, made for fine dining. It felt quite secure.

"For the next few hours, things remained calm. But then, as it became clear that this was not going to be over any time soon, the mood began to change. Searching the web on our mobile phones, we realised the scale of the attacks across Mumbai.

"I called my wife and brother and other friends in London when I realised how serious it was. The room was a hub of activity, with around 200 people, whose mobile phones were going off every 10 seconds.

"As the minutes ticked by into the early morning, we started to hear explosions of different kinds - some sounded like a bus hitting a pothole, others like a hand grenade going off.

"People became more and more agitated - talking loudly to each other. It was a room of Chinese whispers. Someone said there was a terrorist loose on the fourth floor. Another that there were gunmen on the roof.

"Around 3am we heard that an evacuation was going to happen. Just as we were readying to leave, we heard gunshots, and suddenly the orderly queue became a herd of animals, leaping over each other, banging into the walls and bouncing off the furniture.

"Hearing more gunshots, we hit the floor, and rumours began that people at the front had seen someone get shot.

"All the lights had been switched off. Shortly after, we heard three enormous explosions that felt really close. They made the floor and ceiling shake.

"My heart was pumping, and my sense of hearing heightened - you strain to hear every sound and to work out what it means, but that is difficult above the orchestra of coughs, sighs and the sound of people quietly sobbing. You're expecting the worst: a gunman to burst into the room and start firing.

"More gunshots - a burst of machine-gun fire followed by a single, defined shot - perhaps a sniper? And then it seemed that some kind of operation was under way . . . It was followed by an incredible cacophony of gunfire for what seemed like minutes. But after that, silence.

"It was then that the air conditioning went off, and it started to get really uncomfortable being huddled so close. I was tired and confused - why was no one coming to help us?

"A thousand thoughts go through your mind. You think of your wife, your family - what do you say to them? How do you make a text message mean something when you're shaking so much you can't press the buttons?

"Despite the best efforts of the hotel staff, who acted impeccably throughout the night, you look to people for reassurance but there is none. You look into the eyes of the person next to you and are met with the same blankness and fear that you feel.

"And then we heard footsteps. A group of men burst in, and shouted: 'Everyone on your feet! Put your hands above your heads! Confirm nobody has any weapons!' It was the Indian army. Eventually we were escorted out into the morning air, and a view of the Gateway to India. Police vans arrived and we were put on board. But as we did so, gunshots were aimed at us. We dived to the floor and people shouted, 'Drive! Drive! Drive!' We sped off, only to be dropped at the police station just a few roads away.

"All I can think of is how lucky we were to have escaped. It is the people of Mumbai who will have to suffer the consequences of this attack. For me, I am just ready to get on my plane. The time is passing slowly, but not as slowly as it did in that room." - ( Guardianservice)