The site of the Hotel Sea Rock at Bandra Fort in Mumbai, demolished in 2010. Picture taken from the Hotel Taj Lands End, overlooking the Arabian Sea.
On this date in 1985, an Air India jet took off from Montreal in Canada bound for Delhi in India (via London). It never reached the destination – a bomb placed on the Boeing 747 Air India jet exploded while it was over 100 miles from the Irish southwest coast, destroying the aircraft. Three hundred and twenty nine people were killed in the explosion and subsequent crash. The recovery effort was based out of Cork – 132 bodies were recovered.
India is a huge country and has suffered quite a number of terrorists attacks over the years, though the Air India attack was planned and initiated in Canada, and most of the victims were Canadians.
This year so far, I’ve travelled to India three times – each time to Mumbai. Each time, I’ve stayed at the same hotel – the Taj Lands End – and each time, I’ve been reminded of another terrorist attack. The hotel is located at the sea shore so that most of the rooms overlook the Arabian Sea. However, in the foreground (as the picture above illustrates), there is a hole in the ground. It is the outline of the foundations of another hotel; the Hotel Sea Rock, which was one of the thirteen targets attacked on the same day back in 1993. The hotel was damaged in the attack, and for years, it stood derelict before it was demolished in 2010.
I last visited Mumbai in May, and while I was there, there was a bit of a fuss near the hotel. A Bollywood actor, who lives in the same locality, was hauled off to jail due to his part in the 1993 bombings (though I don’t think he lived there when the attacks happened). Sanjay Dutt had been arrested (for storing weapons illegally) soon after the bombings, but had been free pending various appeals. Mumbai is the film capital of India, and several famous actors live in the Bandra district near the hotel. It has a promenade along the sea (just like Salthill!) but it is a bit warmer than Galway, on average.
Two hundred and fifty people were killed in the Mumbai attacks, and around 700 were injured. In April this year, the Canadian government announced a compensation deal for the families of the Air India disaster, 28 years after the attack..
1 This blog has some pictures of the Sea Rock before it was demolished – As I tread the globe….
2 Wikipedia biography of Sanjay Dutt
3 Toronto Star article on Air India disaster
4 Cork memorial to Air India 182 disaster
5 The Hindu newspaper summary of Mumbai attacks
6 India Times account of Sanjay Dutt’s involvement
7 Canadian Government website regarding Air India Flight 182
8 Wikipedia account of 1993 Mumbai (Bombay) bombings
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