Kerala - Kochi   

Keralite among terror victims

KOCHI: Verghese Thomas, 49, a Keralite restaurant executive who died in the terror attack at Hotel Taj in Mumbai on Thursday morning, last spoke to his relatives late on Wednesday.

Mr. Thomas’ cousin Anita who lives in London, after learning about the terrorist strike, had called him up around midnight. But, Mr. Thomas told her that he was in the midst of trouble and snapped the call. In the morning, he was dead.

Mr. Thomas spent his childhood at Kaniyankunnu, near Aluva. As his father V.V.Thomas was in the Air Force, the family had moved to Mumbai. Verghese and his two sisters had their education there. After college, he joined the Taj nearly a quarter century back. His lived with his wife Sanu and two children.

Mr. Thomas’ mother Gracy had, after living outside Kerala for several years, recently returned to live at her house near U.C. College, Aluva. Mr. Thomas and the children had been to Aluva in June this year. Ms. Gracy Thomas will leave for Mumbai on Friday to attend the last rites.

Staff Reporter from Palakkad writes: Palakkad MP N.N. Krishnadas who had a miraculous escape at Hotel Taj in Mumbai which was attacked by terrorists on Wednesday night will return to Palakkad on Friday.

Mr. Krishnadas, who was trapped in the hotel till 4 p.m. on Thursday, was rescued and taken to the Azad Nagar police station in Mumbai.

He told The Hindu on the phone from Mumbai that he had gone to Mumbai to attend a Parliamentary committee meeting and was staying in Hotel Taj.

The attack began when he, along with other MPs and Parliament staff, went to have dinner. And they were trapped in the hotel till Thursday evening.

Mr. Krishnadas said that he was waiting in the Azad Nagar police station for two other MPs who were yet to be rescued from the hotel.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Market tips for farmers
A development campaign on wheels
Nanotechnology will change lives: Sivathanu Pillai
CBI files affidavit in Abhaya case
Security tightened at railway stations
Keralite among terror victims
Book on medieval navigation
Cliched performances at university fete
Ophthalmic surgeons’ meet
Volume on Guruvayur temple
The fight is behind the leader Ocean Race watch
Uneasy calm at Taj Hotel
Security stepped up in the city
Supplyco offer
Samatha Law Society
Body found
Tender coconut ban lifted
Lacklustre show at fete
Dies of burns
In Kochi Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu