Richmond man’s visit to Mumbai on hold

Richmond-area businessman Rumy Mohta was supposed to arrive in Mumbai yesterday to visit his parents, who live about 2 miles from the Taj Mahal hotel.

But his connection from Paris to Mumbai was canceled, so he hopes to go in a week or two to see his ailing father.

He learned about the situation Wednesday around midday, when he got calls from his mother, aunt and a friend.

"It's terrible," he said. "They were under curfew yesterday. My sister cannot go to work for the next four days because the offices are closed."

Mohta said he believes the purpose of the massacre was to create a panic and to hurt India's economy. "Mumbai is the financial heart of India," he said.

Richmonder Roshni Choksi's family lives in Mumbai, and all are safe.

"But this is huge," she said. "People are still shocked by what's happening. It is a big tragedy."

But India is resilient, she said.

"The spirit never dies. Time and again they have been hit by these things. Bombay has always born the brunt of this. It's time for the world to take notice."

Henrico County schools Superintendent Fred Morton IV was scheduled to arrive in Mumbai today with a contingent of Virginia superintendents and education officials. The group postponed the trip after reports of the violence unfolded.

"Clearly, we were devastated for them," said Morton. The officials plan to make the 10-day trip at a later date.

"This is a time when people need to reach out to each other and support each other."

Staff writer Lisa Crutchfield-Barth contributed to this report.