Hanuman Chalisa helps Taj resident maintain calm

MUMBAI: 'Hanuman Chalisa' prayer book and a photograph of Siddhi Vinayak helped a stranded resident in the Taj hotel here to remain calm as a gun battle raged between terrorists and security forces outside the hotel.

"I have my Hanuman Chalisa with me....I have Siddhi Vinayak picture in my room....I have not panicked during the night," said Deepak, while giving the first hand blow by blow account of the high-voltage gun battle at the country's century-old iconic landmark on Mumbai's waterfront.

Recalling the incident as it unfolded, he said: "I got a phone call 'please secure your door'."

Deepak was having dinner when he was asked to turn off the lights. Moments later, the television channels were cut off, he said.

"Two explosions I heard were the loudest in my lifetime," he said as he recounted the series of explosions and sounds of firing outside the hotel.

As two gunmen kept firing from automatic weapons, Deepak said he could see people outside running around.