Construction activities at Nariman House, one of the sites which bore the scars of 26/11 Mumbai attack, are in full swing ahead of the memorial service to be held there on the first anniversary of the strike.

"The restoration works started last Saturday after we were awarded the contract on Tuesday. We have been asked to complete the work before November 26 as they are going to hold some candle light vigil," the construction in-charge told said on condition of anonymity.

The five-storey building, also known as Chabad House in Colaba in south Mumbai, stands as a mute testimony to the two-day terror siege with walls of its rooms and passageways pockmarked by hundreds of bullets and splinters from grenades.

"The temporary construction would be completed before November 26 after which complete restoration work would be taken up," he said as workers went about the job at a furious pace removing shards and slabs of plaster to ready the place.

However, on the bustling street below, life goes on as usual with fitness buffs pumping iron in a gymnasium and children immersed in a lively gully cricket match, forgetful of the tragedy that will perhaps remain etched on Mumbai's psyche forever.