Ratan Tata surveys Taj

Tata Group chief Ratan Tata on Saturday visited the Taj Hotel, shortly after three terrorists were gunned down by the National Security Guards in the fresh gunbattle early this morning, to take stock of the land-mark building.

Accompanied by senior officials of the Taj Hotel, including Krishna Kumar, Tata surveyed the complex that include a heritage block that was devastated by fires set off during the gunbattle between thw ultras and the security guards.

The 529-room Taj Hotel was the centre of the deadly 62-hour long militant attack on the financial capital of India.

After fire erupted from some portions of the ground, first and second floors, at least three fire tenders were pushed in to service to douse the flames.

Many prominent business personalities and corporate executives, including Yes Bank chairman Ashok Kapur, Sunil Parekh and developer Pankaj Shah, were killed during the terrorist attack at either Taj or Oberoi (Trident).

When contacted, Taj spokesperson said, "Some representatives of hotel have been allowed to go in but Mr Tata is still outside".

Media baron Subhash Chandra who was also present at the scene said, "After looking at the scene inside, we feel the situation inside is not safe at all."

On Thursday, a few hours after the terrists struck Mumbai, Tata had said, "We must stand together, shoulder to shoulder as citizens of India, and rebuild what has been destroyed. We must show that we cannot be disabled or destroyed, but that such heinous act will only make us stronger."

Image: Tata group chairman Ratan Tata with memebrs of NSG team at The Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai on November 29, 2008. | Photograph: Vaihayasi Pande Daniel

With inputs from PTI