Trade, commerce hit as terror
strikes India's commercial hub
Mumbai,
Nov 27 (IANS) Trade and commerce in India's commercial and
entertainment capital came to a halt Thursday with offices
shut and trading suspended on all bourses after terror struck
this metropolis since the previous night, leaving 101 people
dead and more than 250 injured.
As
terrorists took scores of domestic and overseas tourists hostage
at two of the city's top luxury hotels, the state government
declared a public holiday and asked people not to venture
out, crippling commercial activity at this otherwise bustling
city.
"Considering
the prevailing abnormal situation and the government's advice
to people to stay at home, it has been decided to keep the
market closed for the day," said a notice issued by the
Bombay Stock Exchange.
"The
expiry in futures and options, and settlement due today, stands
postponed to the next working day," said the exchange,
as similar notice was issued by the National Stock Exchange
and most of the commodities and currency exchanges.
The
Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the country's central bank, which
has its headquarters here, also said there would be no transactions
and settlements in government securities, foreign exchange
and money markets Thursday.
"Settlement
of all outstanding transactions will accordingly get postponed
to the next working day, Nov 28, 2008,” the central bank's
advisory said.
“Last
night's attack is a clear and unambiguous attack on the Indian
economy and all its participants,” said a statement by the
Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci),
a leading industry lobby.
“Indian
business and its various stakeholders have so far been mute
and detached from this debate on terrorism and tougher approach
to terrorism and terrorists, including anti-terror laws,”
said the chamber president Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
“It
is time we all join this debate on terrorism and demand stronger
and firmer leadership and approach to this threat of terrorism,
including better laws.”
Even
though air and train services resumed from this city, the
travel trade industry reported scores of cancellations - not
just for Thursday but also for the days ahead. Some countries
also advised citizens not to travel to India.
“In
view of the current situation, we have also beefed up security
at all the stations across our network,” said Sanjay Aggarwal,
chief executive of budget carrier SpiceJet, but adding that
operations were otherwise normal.
Air
India spokesperson Jitendra Bhargava told IANS that both domestic
and international flights were now running as scheduled from
the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
Jet Airways asked its entire staff to report for duty in
the morning, even if their duty hours were to begin later
in the day.
"Everyone
has to report in the morning. Contingency plans have been
put in force at the Mumbai airport," a Jet official said,
adding that specialised security forces had taken over the
airport.
Railway
services, too, resumed normally from the Chhatrapati Shivaji
Terminus with the Mumbai-Patna Express departing at 4 a.m.
in the morning, after trains were suspended for some six hours
when the news of terror attacks started pouring in.
The
main station, earlier called the Victoria Terminus, is the
headquarters of Central Railway and was one of the seven landmarks
that were the target of terrorists.
The
landmark Taj Mahal Palace and Tower Hotel opposite the Gateway
of India, and the Oberoi Trident Hotel - both of which attract
scores of tourists and business visitors from overseas - were
also targeted.
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