Bustling Mumbai tries to find normality

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By Prachi Pinglay BBC News, Mumbai

Onlookers recorded images of the near-deserted attack sites

The citizens of Mumbai returned to its bustling streets on Monday with a mixture of necessity, resolve - and a lot of fatigue.

But what of the Mumbai "spirit" of bouncing back from tragedy? Has it been doused by the deadly attacks?

Offices, schools and colleges opened. Railways stations were crowded; roads were jammed with the usual traffic. The stock markets opened in the black but fell back during the day's trade.

At the targeted sites like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) rail station, the Oberoi-Trident hotel and the Taj Mahal Palace hotel, people were discussing the attacks on India's financial capital.

Dinesh Patel, a bank employee who comes to Churchgate station every day, complained security was far from adequate.

Sometimes we feel even if we die in such an attack at least our families will get good compensation Santosh Jadhav

"When Mumbai has been attacked so many times, security should be as tight as it is at airports. There should be vigilance. But basically everyone is just getting used to these incidents and even the loss of life."

There is a feeling of being let down by the government - with Mumbai's security compromised so often.

Harshada, a law firm employee, said: "It is as if terrorists make sure that we do not forget the fear. I take a long distance train from CST station and sit at the station for several hours. Now I'd be worried because anyone can walk in with a gun and shoot as many people as he wants."

Many people came to see the devastation at the Oberoi-Trident and the Taj Mahal Palace.

A group of college girls said they were curious to find out what exactly happened. They took pictures from their mobile phones and said they had never seen the places so deserted.

'Matter of survival'

Bushra, who works near the Oberoi, said: "Earlier we used to be careful about places like trains or previous blast sites. But opening fire in public and holding up two five-star hotels is taking terrorism to another level."

The terrorists achieved what they wanted... I feel defeated and hurt Bushra

Bushra has to come to work but her social outings will be reduced: "My mother has asked me to go to the office and come back. We don't really have a choice about work. So it is a matter of survival more than spirit."

Many were angered by comments made by Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, RR Patil, who has now resigned after being quoted as saying that the attacks were "minor incidents".

Vipin Kumar, who works near CST station, said: "When there are reports of your political leaders terming this incident as a small one, where does a common person go?

"Is the death of nearly 200 people a small incident? Are we mere insects and not human beings? This is a systemic problem which no one wants to solve. People will continue to work anyway."

Santosh Jadhav, who works as a driver in south Mumbai, said: "Sometimes we feel even if we die in such an attack at least our families will get good compensation.

The response of politicians angered Vipin Kumar

"This is what a poor person who leaves home for work thinks. Since there is no guarantee of life anyway, at least let the families make some money."

The residents also say that the discussion about new measures and the resignation of ministers were due to the targets being elite hotels and foreigners.

Mr Kumar feels the politicians may now sit up and take note because the repercussions have been international.

But there is also great respect for the action of the security forces that ended the siege after nearly 60 hours.

And many believe in moving on as quickly as possible and in hoping for a better future.

However, Bushra sounds a cautionary note.

"The terrorists achieved what they wanted. I know they were killed by the army. I know things will get back to normal. They wanted to create terror and kill innocent people, which they did. I feel defeated and hurt."