Mumbai's unsung heroes: Captain Singh, hotel staff

TWO HEROES : Captain AK Singh (L) was involved in the Oberoi Hotel operation while Rajan Kamble was a Taj Hotel staff.

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Mumbai: The terrorist attack on Mumbai on the horrific night of November 26 led to many casualties. But the nearly 60-hour long siege at the Taj and Oberoi hotels also saw many heroes, who put their lives on the line and rescued dozens of guests.

National Security Guard (NSG) commando Captain AK Singh was one of those who stormed into the 18th floor of the Oberoi to eliminate the terrorists and rescue hostages.

When the terrorists hurled a grenade to keep the NSG commandos away, splinters hit Singh's left eye and badly damaged it.

But his family is convinced that the officer is a fighter and will recover soon.

"I just hope he is given the best treatment. He is improving and I have full faith that he will recover soon," said Captain Singh's father Chhatradhari Singh.

Captain Singh was selected from the Army's 22nd Field Regiment and this operation was his first with the NSG. This was also his first visit to Mumbai.

The 29-year-old Army officer was slated to get married to his long-time sweetheart Madhu this year but with his condition critical, the celebrations have been put on hold.

"I am very proud of my son and thank all those who are praying for his wellbeing. I thank all Mumbaikars for their help. Their blessings are with my son," said the Army officer's mother Amravati Singh.

But it's not just the men in uniform who turned Mumbai's saviours. Many including the hotel staff emerged as heroes.

Some of them even made the supreme sacrifice. Fifty-year-old Rajan Kamble, a maintenance staff at the Taj Mahal Hotel, took a bullet even as he rushed the guests to safety.

Kamble lost his battle for life on Wednesday (December 3) at the JJ Hospital but among those who owe their lives to Kamble's quick response are the Mangeshikar couple.

Realising that Kamble was badly injured, the doctor couple did attend to him.

"We examined him and we found a big hole in his stomach and with no gloves we used our hands. We packed it and tied a sheet around it and gave him a pain killer which one of the foreigners had," said Dr Tilu Mangeshikar,

Different backgrounds, different destinies but a common link binds them together.

Captain Singh and Kamble displayed tremendous courage as they risked their lives to save many others and as Mumbai and the survivors of the terror attack try to get life back on track, for the families of these two brave men, life after 26/11 will never be the same again.

CNN-IBN salutes these unsung heroes for their valour and selflessness that saved many innocent lives in Mumbai.