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Update from Raymond Bickson, the Managing Director
of Taj Hotels, as of 1.00 pm IST, December 1, 2008
In the early hours of December 1st, the security authorities handed control of The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower back to the Taj group. However, certain parts of the property are still inaccessible, either due to the continuing security investigations or for safety reasons.
With immediate effect, the building has been placed under as tight a seal as possible until a full risk assessment has been completed.
Access to the hotel buildings is only being given to a limited number of specialist personnel. This is due to the need to remove all potential sources of risk arising from the attack. The assessment team will be carrying out their initial survey of the property during the early afternoon of Monday December 1st.
Sections of the building also require specialist assessment to establish their structural integrity, but these surveys will not be initiated until the risk assessment is complete.
On Wednesday 26th November, a large, well prepared and ruthless terrorist gang launched simultaneous suicide attacks on more than ten locations across Mumbai. Such a level of deadly force applied in a sophisticated attack took the whole country and all its agencies by surprise.
The nature of the attacks was to indiscriminately take life in a number of publicly accessible places. These included the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, other hotels, a restaurant and public transport locations.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks and deep personal respects to all the members of the National Security Guard who gave their lives or risked their lives as they confronted the terrorist attackers.
Our thoughts also remain with all those who lost their lives during the attacks - our guests, our staff and their families and many other fellow citizens of Mumbai.
5.00 pm IST, November 30, 2008
Honouring Taj employees who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks and caring for employees of The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower
Mr. Raymond Bickson, the Managing Director of Taj Hotels, has made the following statement:
"It is a matter of the deepest sadness to the Taj family that 10 (ten) of our colleagues lost their lives during the course of the terrorist attack on The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, leaving their families in deep grief.
The names and details of the employees who lost their lives are:
Vijay Banja, aged 48 years.
Gautam Gosain, aged 22 years.
Kaizad Kamdin, aged 28 years.
Zaheen Mateen, aged 25 years.
Faustine Martis, aged 47 years.
Sadanand Patil, 25 years.
Rahamathulla, aged 54 years.
Boris Rego, aged 23 years.
Thomas Varghese, aged 53 years.
Rabindra Kanmar, aged 32 years.
Another cause for the most profound sadness has been the death of family members of employees during the attack. As has already been reported, the wife and two children of Karambir Kang, General Manager of The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower were killed on the first night of the terrorist attack.
Over the course of the next few days the entire Taj family will be commemorating our colleagues who gave their lives and a memorial service is in the course of being organised, We stand together, unified in grief at their passing and in respect of their honour and courage.
The Taj group has also made arrangements to support the 11 employees who were injured during the attacks. All those who require medical assistance or counselling support are receiving it and, of course, we are taking care of all their expenses. All the employees of The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower are being taken care of and some may be redeployed until operations are resumed."
6.05 pm IST, November 29, 2008
With regards to reports by some media outlets, we would like to point out that we have no indications or information from the investigating authorities that any of the hotel employees or contractual staff has been involved in this terrorist attack. We continue to extend our full cooperation to the relevant authorities and await their full assessment of the situation.
1.00 pm IST, November 29, 2008
Statement from Mr. Raymond Bickson, CEO & Managing Director, The Indian Hotels Company Limited
I would just like to update you all. The heroic actions of our security forces have now contained the attack on the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower. We are enormously saddened at the loss of life amongst the brave men who carried out this action.
Due to the security measures that are being completed in the hotel, we have been granted very limited access, presently. The process of fully assessing the internal situation can not yet begin as the NSG are continuing their risk assessment. We will provide updates on the situation within the hotel when we can.
We are extending our full cooperation to the investigating authorities. There is one point that I would like to make clear. We have had no indications from them that any employee or contractual staff of the hotel have been involved as part of this terrorist attack as is being reported by some media outlets.
At the moment, the clear focus of all our activities continues on supporting the immediate needs of the guests and staff who have been affected by the terrorist acts. Our deep condolences are being expressed to the families and friends of all those who have lost their lives.
10.00 am IST, November 29, 2008
Although the security forces have completed the initial phase of their operations at the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers, the building is still in the process of being fully secured.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks and deep personal respects to all the members of the National Security Guard who gave their lives or risked their lives as they confronted the terrorist attackers.
Our thoughts also remain with all those who lost their lives during the attacks - our guests, our staff and their families and many other fellow citizens of Mumbai.
We are continuing the process of providing care and support to meet the immediate needs of our guests and staff who were affected by the incident.
Over 130 resident guests and families from the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers are being accommodated at other Taj properties in Mumbai, namely the Taj President, Taj Lands End and Taj Wellington Mews.
The 24/7 Helpline set up by the Taj to provide updates on the guests of The Taj Mahal Palace and Towers has been in operation for the last 48 hours.
Additionally, the help desks for our resident guests at our three properties in Mumbai have been providing a wide range of support and assistance for affected guests.
We owe an enormous debt of honour to the members of our staff and their families who lost their lives or sustained injuries in the course of the terrorist attack.
On behalf of many resident guests from our hotel who experienced the attack, we would like to acknowledge many individual acts of tremendous bravery displayed by our staff as the terrible events unfolded.
Messages of condolence and support have been pouring in to us from guests, citizens of Mumbai and from around the world. We would like to convey our heartfelt gratitude for this overwhelming display of sympathy and support.
1.00 pm IST, November 28, 2008
Everyone at Taj Hotels is greatly saddened by the recent act of terrorism. Our deepest condolences go out to the families of all those who have lost their lives across the city of Mumbai.
The rescue and recovery operations by the security forces are continuing at The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai. The hotel management and staff are working closely with the relevant authorities and providing full cooperation to them for the safety and security of all our guests and staff.
To provide timely updates and assistance to the guests of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and their families, the Taj has set-up a 24x7 helpline. This aims to provide relevant information on the guests who were checked into the hotel from November 26th onwards.
Help desks have also been established at the Taj President, Taj Wellington Mews and Taj Lands End for all guests who have been moved by us to our other properties. These are providing a wide range of support including medical assistance, arrangement of onward travel plans, provision of travel documentation and any other assistance that is required.
7.30 am IST, November 27, 2008
The Taj is very much a symbol of India and we are actually seeing a battle on and we will be defiant.We are monitoring the development of the unfortunate situation unfolding in South Mumbai,in and around our hotel and are fully cooperating with the police and the government authorities to ensure the safety and security of all our guests and staff.That is all we can say at the moment and we would like to channelise all our effort and energy to ensure a speedy normalisation of the situation as best as we can.
We will rebuild every inch that has been damaged in this attack and bring back the Taj to its full glory.
4.30 am IST, November 27, 2008
Taj Hotels are monitoring the development of the unfortunate situation unfolding at The Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in South Mumbai and are fully cooperating with the police and the government authorities who are working towards the safety and security of all our guests and staff. That is all we can say at the moment and we would like to channel all our efforts and energy to ensure a speedy normalisation of the situation as best as we can.
Helpline
To provide timely updates and assistance to the guests of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and their families, the Taj has set-up a 24x7 helpline. This aims to provide relevant information on the guests who were checked into the hotel from November 26th onwards. This helpline has dealt with over 2000 calls over the past 24 hours.
Taj 24x7 helpline numbers are:
India: + 91 22 6657 4322 / 6657 4372 / 1 800 111825
US & Canada: 1866 9691825
Rest of the World: 00800 4588 1825
Taj Mahal Hotel, Mumbai, situated on the waterfront, is a gracious landmark facing the Gateway of India.
When the hotel opened in 1903, it had no parallel in the city, and possibly in the country. Although the hotel has seen much change, including the addition of a contemporary Tower Wing in 1973, it has retained most of its original charm. As a member of the select group of 'Leading Hotels of the World' The Taj Mahal offers guests a unique blend of warm hospitality, luxurious accommodation and contemporary amenities and services. The hotel has played host to many prominent personalities including royalty and heads of state. The Taj Mahal Hotel is 30 km from the airport and minutes away from the city's prime commercial, banking and shopping districts.
2008: the hotel makes headlines all over the world under most unfortunate circumstances:
For the temporary record of these tragic events we quote a report of the Times of India, dated 28. November 2008, while the happenings are still going on:
28.11.2008: NEW DELHI: Marine commandos have recovered 30 bodies from the Taj hotel and have said that around 200 people were held hostage at one of the halls of the hotel.
Commandos told reporters that terrorists were well aware of the Taj's layout and they were carrying AK series rifle. They recovered 1200$ and Rs 6000 from the assailants.
Marine commandos also handed over a Mauritian national identity-card and a number of credit cards recovered from the militants inside the Taj hotel.
Earlier, a gunbattle between NSG commandos and a militant holed up inside the Taj hotel raged up.
An explosion was also heard at the ground floor of the old building of the hotel.
Earlier, Indian Army commander confirmed that at least one militant continues to battle Indian commandos in the Taj Hotel in Mumbai and may be holding two or more hostages.
"Almost all the guests in the hotel and the staff in the hotel have been evacuated," Lieutenant-General N. Thamburaj told reporters.
He told reporters that almost all guests and staff had been evacuated from the Taj and the operation would be wrapped up there in a few hours. "It is just a matter of few hours before "we wrap up things" says GoC, Southern Command.
The new building of Taj hotel has been totally flushed out and cleared and handed over to police, he said adding that one terrorist, possibly two, had moved into the adjacent old heritage building.
"We have heard the sound of a woman and a man, giving indications that they are being held hostage," Thamburaj said but added that almost all guests and staff in the hotel have been evacuated.
He conceded that the there were some casualties among the NSG commandos but would not disclose their numbers and whether they were fatal or otherwise saying that operational details would affect the "mental makeup" of terrorists.
Thamburaj said that operations had to be "deliberate and slow" to ensure the safety of the hostages, guests and hotel staff. The commandos had been told not to rush things under the "pressure of media or citizens".
He said some rooms in Taj are still bolted from inside and people inside are not responding, probably they are scared. "As soon as communication and room services are restored, we will inform them about the situation and ask them to come out".
*****
29 November 2008 (The Times, London)
Indian commandos today killed the last remaining gunmen holed up at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai, ending a 60-hour rampage that killed 195 people in India's financial capital.
Orange flames and black smoke engulfed the landmark 565-room luxury hotel after dawn Saturday as Indian forces ended the siege there in a hail of gunfire, just hours after elite commandos stormed a Jewish center and found nine hostages dead.
"There were three terrorists, we have killed them," said JK Dutt, director general of India's elite National Security Guard commando unit.
Some hotel guests were still believed to be in their rooms. "They are still scared, so even when we request them to come out and identify ourselves, they are naturally afraid," Dutt said.
*******
And finally, on 30. November 2008, The Times, London, wrote:
The body fell limply from the ground-floor window of the still-burning building at about 8am yesterday. The black-clad Indian commando who had shoved it out without ceremony leant through the frame and gave a thumbs-up sign to his colleagues outside.
With the last of the terrorists who had holed up in the Taj Mahal Palace hotel confirmed dead, the 60-hour siege of Mumbai was finally complete.
“All operations are over. All the terrorists have been killed,” said Hassan Gafoor, the city’s police chief, as special-forces units emerged from the smoke-filled hotel and firefighters moved in to douse a fierce blaze. The whistles of hundreds of policemen filled the air.
The head of the National Security Guard commando unit was more circumspect as he spoke to reporters outside the hotel. “Three terrorists have been killed, but we are continuing our operations,” said JK Dutt, adding that his men would not rest until they had checked every room.
Over the years, the Taj Mahal, Mumbai, has played host to some of the most prominent personalities in the world. Renowned for its hospitality, grace and unique old world charm, the hotel has often been the obvious choice for visiting heads of state, dignitaries, musicians and high-profile business tycoons. In January this year, the Taj Mahal, Mumbai played host to one of pop’s greatest legends and former member of The Beatles, Sir Paul McCartney.
To even the most musically uninitiated, Paul McCartney would probably be a familiar name. Apart from being a member of the most successful band in history, The Beatles, McCartney is also probably one of the most prolific musicians in the world. In a career spanning over three decades, Paul McCartney has composed innumerable tunes and even been honoured with a Knighthood for his contribution to the music industry. Britain’s first pop music billionaire was passing through Mumbai on a private visit in the third week of January and wished to keep it that way. Private! The Beatles have had an association with the Taj Mahal, Mumbai, ever since their tryst with spirituality and Indian Music in the Sixties. In those days, John Lennon and George Harrison spent many days in their hotel suite picking up the finer points of Sitar playing from Sitar maestro, Ravi Shankar. An experiment which held them in good stead while producing their album with Indian music influences - ‘Sergeant. Pepper’s Lonely Heart's Club Band’, Paul McCartney and his girl-friend, Heather Mills, stayed at the luxuriously appointed Presidential Suite in the Heritage Wing of the Taj Mahal, Mumbai. Each corridor in this Wing resembles an art gallery, and the design, décor and furnishing ensure that no two rooms are alike. The Presidential Suite has a high, domed wooden-beamed ceiling and is decorated with original paintings and antiques that transport guests into a realm of old-world luxury and grandeur. Throughout his stay at the Taj, Paul McCartney requested total privacy and the staff at the hotel ensured that he was not disturbed. At meal times, a room service trolley laden with Chinese delicacies and Indian breads would be left outside his room, in deference to his wishes. On the evening before he flew back to London, Paul McCartney met a few select guests at a small dinner party hosted by the accomplished Sitar maestro, Ustad Nishat Khan. His unassuming nature charmed the select audience as he took them on a trip down memory lane that lasted almost four hours! Over an Indian meal fit for the real King of Pop, Paul chatted freely about The Beatles, their inspiration for various songs, the break-up and his musical milestones after the split. The wonderful evening ended a little after midnight with Paul retiring to his suite where he probably slept like a log!
Happiness is made to be shared, knew the great French dramatist Jean Baptiste Racine (†1699).
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Maneck B Patel Until ca 2004 Rajiv Kaul(2005)