
The ordeal which began with the siege of two luxury hotels and a Jewish residential building by terrorists on Wednesday had some relieving moments whenever forces managed to bring a few hostages out.
About 100 hostages mostly of foreign origin were rescued from Trident Hotel on Friday morning by National Security Guards. The scene outside the Trident hotel was full of anxiety as relatives and friends waited to see their loved ones free.
Some resorted to praying while few were seen talking to journalists for an update on what was happening inside. With no accurate source of ascertaining their well-being, media and occasional informal briefings by the officials became their only hope.
The anxious crowd cheered when a group of about 90 hostages including, an infant clung to his father's lap, was escorted out by the hotel staff. The authorities did not allow the hostages to rush to open areas unless their relatives were waiting.
The group had many foreign nationals including the hotel's Italian chef, his wife and his newborn baby. The couple exhausted with the long wait full of uncertainty avoided answering media and went directly to the jeep parked outside.
While some were crying, some looked relieved and waved as their bus went pass the lensmen. Most of them refused to share anything with the media and hid their faces, some went talking on their mobile phones apparently conveying their safety to their relatives.
Later in the day, about 20 more guests came out of the Trident. The staff of the hotel was seen helping guests board the bus waiting in the nearby Air India building.
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