An Oxford holidaymaker last night told how she managed to leave Mumbai just hours after the start of terrorist attacks which have claimed more than 125 lives.

Jagruti Bhuva, 44, from Kennington, was visiting relatives in India’s financial capital when news broke that gunmen had begun a wave of 10 attacks which have killed at least 125 people and left more than 300 injured.

Mrs Bhuva was packing her bags to head home when she heard news of the first shooting. Just after she left for the airport, residents of Mumbai were ordered to stay indoors by city officials because they did not know where or when the terrorists would strike next.

Gunmen opened fire on Wednesday against a series of civilian targets in the heart of India’s financial capital, including two luxury hotels and a packed railway station. British and American nationals were said to be particular targets.

Violence continued for a second day as terrorists holding hostages exchanged fire with Indian commandos.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed one Briton had died.

Indian commandos freed hostages from Mumbai's Taj Mahal hotel yesterday but faced continued resistance in other parts of the city from militants believed to be holding between 50 and 200 hostages.

Mrs Bhuva, who was visiting her brother Sanjay Prekh in the suburb of Vile Parle where one taxi was blown up, said: “It was very scary. When we first heard we thought it was a one-off but then it kept happening at all these other places.

“The scary thing was that there was a bomb in a taxi and it wasn’t just one place which they attacked.”

Mother-of-three Mrs Bhuva, who also has seven cousins in Mumbai, added: “None of my direct family seems to have been involved but we were all in a state of shock. My brother kept ringing me at the airport to check I was okay. We were scared they’d try and attack the planes.

“We were discussing staying in Mumbai for another week but I wanted to come home. I feel very relieved to be back in Britain.”

Mrs Bhuva said security at Mumbai Airport was stepped up and she faced a two-hour delay for her flight.

She said: “A lot of flights were cancelled and there were long delays. Everyone was in a massive state of shock.”

cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk