Security personnel take position outside the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai on Thursday. Photo: Paul Noronha

Mumbai (PTI): Army has rushed in five columns from adjoining areas to beef up its strength, ahead of a "final push" to rid posh hotels Taj and Trident-Oberoi in south Mumbai from the grip of "well-trained" terrorists holed out in them.

The Army personnel, forming part of the present deployment of around five columns in terror-hit south Mumbai areas, has got a boost with the arrival of the fresh batch from Pune and Nashik, highly-placed sources told PTI. "The flushing out operations at these hotels, being undertaken jointly with National Security Guards (NSG) may be over sooner than expected were it not for our endeavour to ensure that there is no collateral damage," the sources said.

There is a strong indication that the terrorists are from across the border, based on the description of one of the terrorists arrested at Trident-Oberoi today, the sources said.

"The terrorists are extremely well-armed. They are carrying AK-56 assault rifles and plenty of grenades. NSG is also using a fair share of grenades to try to flush them out from hiding," the sources said.

Army has stationed two columns at the Taj, a column at Trident-Oberoi and a column each at Colaba market area and CST station. Each column has 50 Army personnel.

"We have carried out our first search ... there are no hostages. It is just that the people have locked up themselves into rooms," Maj Gen Hooda said.

The GOC said there are about 12 terrorists holed up in three places -- about two-three persons at Nariman House, five to six at the Taj hotel and the rest at Trident (Oberoi) hotel.

"Every militant is carrying rucksacks with him which include a weapon, ten magazines and ammunition. They are also carrying grenades which they have been using," he told NDTV.

The Maj Gen said they have intercepted the communications amongst the militants which suggested them to throw grenades whenever they get obstacles.

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