Mumbai terror attacks: Remembering the heroes of 26/11

11 years since the horrific 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai that claimed the lives of about 200, including security personnel, civillians, and hotel staff, here is a look at some of the bravest who put the safety of others before their own.

Hemant Karkare

ATS Chief Hemant Karkare defended Mumbai till his last breath until terrorists Kasab and Ismail opened fire outside the Cama Hospital.

Vijay Salaskar

Encounter specialist Vijay Salaskar was killed by bullets fired by Kasab as per his confession post-capture.

Ashok Kamte

Senior police office Ashok Kamte was the third brave life lost along with Karkare and Salaskar outside the Cama Hospital. All three were posthumously awarded Ashok Chakras for their bravery and dedication to defend the city of Mumbai until their dying breath.

Tukaram Omble

It was because of assistant sub-inspector Tukaram Omble's selfless sacrifice that Kasab became the only terrorist from the attacks to be captured, and later, hanged.

Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan

Team commander of 51 Special Action Group, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan defended his fellow commandos and guests trapped in the Taj Hotel until he was shot dead. His reported last words, "Do not come up, I will handle them" were as heroic as his actions in Operation Black Tornado. He was also posthumously awarded the Ashok Chakra.

Karambir Singh Kang

Karambir Singh Kang, the general manager of the Taj hotel, supervised the evacuation of guests from the hotel despite losing his own wife and son who were trapped in the hotel's 6th floor.

2-year-old Moshe Holtzberg

2-year-old Moshe Holtzberg was saved from the terrorists who attacked the Nariman House and killed many including his parents because of his nanny Sandra Samuel.

Mallika Jagad

Mallika Jagad, who was a 24-year-old Assistant Banquet Manager of the Hotel at the time of 26/11, led about 60 guests to their safety. Along with the other staff, Jagad locked the banquet doors, turned off the lights, and asked the guests to remain silent, until they were spotted by the fire crew and helped to escape through the window. Parallelly, in the hotel's Japanese restaurant Wasabi, senior waiter Thomas Varghese evacuated all his guests and was the last person to leave, but was shot before reaching safety.

The four furry friends and heroes

The four furry friends and heroes Max, Tiger, Sultan, and Ceaser, were sniffer dogs from Mumbai Police’s Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad who saved countless lives by detecting bombs with their sharp sense of smell.