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Mumbai attack hotels greet guests Mumbai attack hotels greet guests
(about 1 hour later)
Two luxury hotels in Mumbai are re-opening, less than a month after they were heavily damaged in attacks on the city that killed at least 170 people. Two luxury hotels in Mumbai have re-opened less than a month after they were badly damaged in attacks on the city that killed at least 170 people.
The Trident-Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace hotels were among prominent locations in the Indian city struck by 10 gunmen. The Trident-Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace hotels were the scene of fierce battles between Indian forces and several gunmen which lasted for several days.
Both hotels were the scene of fierce battles between police and the gunmen that lasted for several days. The manager of the Trident said it had been full of people when it re-opened.
Armed guards and sniffer dogs have been stationed at both hotels and X-ray machines are to screen guests' bags. Armed guards and sniffer dogs were stationed at both hotels and X-ray machines to screen their guests' bags.
About 80 guests and staff at the hotels were killed as the gunmen went on a shooting spree through the buildings. About 80 guests and staff at the two hotels were killed as the gunmen went on a shooting spree through the buildings between 26 and 29 November.
Nine gunmen were killed and one is in police custody. Nine gunmen were killed and one is in police custody. Indian officials allege that they were linked to a Pakistan-based militant group.
The re-openings come as one survivor from the Taj siege told the BBC that some guests were shot and killed by the militants after police said it was safe to leave. Earlier, one survivor from the Taj siege told the BBC that that some guests had been shot and killed by the militants after police said it was safe to leave.
The senior policeman in charge of the operation in the hotel has denied the allegations against his officers.The senior policeman in charge of the operation in the hotel has denied the allegations against his officers.
'Deep pride''Deep pride'
Less-heavily damaged sections of the two hotels are being re-opened in the run-up to Christmas. There is definitely a huge amount of sadness in everybody's mind Rattan KeswaniPresident of Trident Hotels class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7794511.stm">Flowers and tears as hotels re-open class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7794211.stm">Deaths from Mumbai 'police error' Although sections of the hotels remain heavily damaged by the explosions and fire that engulfed them during the sieges, parts of the Taj and Trident were repaired sufficiently to receive guests on Sunday.
A multi-faith prayer ceremony was held at the Trident Oberoi on Sunday for staff, guests and dignitaries before a more formal re-opening. Security was tight, with metal detectors and X-ray scanners being used to check luggage and ID cards and "pat down" checks for guests. Armed police also manned barricades outside both hotels.
Security is tight, with metal detectors and X-ray scanners being used to check luggage and ID cards and "pat down" checks for guests. There is definitely a huge amount of sadness in everybody's mind Rattan KeswaniPresident of Trident Hotels class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7794511.stm">Flowers and tears as hotels re-open class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7794705.stm">In pictures: Mumbai hotels re-open class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/7794211.stm">Deaths from Mumbai 'police error'
A regular guest at the hotel, Kritika Srinivasan, told AFP news agency: "There is no fear. We see the courage of the people and the staff. A multi-faith prayer ceremony was held at the Trident for staff, guests and dignitaries before a more formal re-opening.
"We have to show them (the attackers) that they can't break our courage and solidarity." Maulana Sayeed Azhar Ali, member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, said the ceremony had been accompanied by an appeal for religious harmony.
Rattan Keswani, president of Trident Hotels which owns part of the Oberoi, said he felt "deep pride" for the work his staff had done both during the 26-29 November attacks, and since. "We quoted the verses of the Koran, and told everybody that the Koran abhors violence in all its forms," he said.
A re-launch party was attended by a thousand people inside the Taj hotel Rattan Keswani, president of Trident Hotels, said it had been completely full of people after it was formally re-opened.
"There is definitely a huge amount of sadness in everybody's mind," he said, but added that he was proud of his staff for being "100%" committed to re-opening the hotel. "We didn't have a seat free in any of the restaurants, including the lobby lounge of the hotel," he told the BBC. "That would kind of indicate there was no reluctance to return to the hotel."
A hundred of the 550 guest rooms of the Trident section of the Oberoi hotel would be occupied on Sunday night, he said. A hundred of the 550 guest rooms of the Trident section of the hotel would be occupied on Sunday night, he said.
More than 1,000 guests were invited to a re-opening party at the Taj later on Sunday, where 268 of its 565 rooms are available, hotel officials said. A regular guest at the hotel, Kritika Shrinivasan, said returning had been a moving experience.
While the modern Tower wing of the Taj is re-opening, the 105-year-old main section of the hotel is still closed, requiring extensive renovations to its ornate wood and marble interiors. "We felt very emotional, we had tears in our eyes, because it felt so good to be back, to see the place open, to see all the employees and management, who are so warm, who are so hospitable - and they were literally welcoming us with open arms," she told the BBC.
India has blamed the attacks on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). We can be hurt, but we will never fall Ratan TataOwner of Taj Mahal Palace hotel
LeT and the Pakistani government have denied any involvement. Later, just a few streets away at the Taj hotel, its assembled staff were greeted by returning guests with an emotional standing ovation.
More than 1,000 guests were invited to a re-opening party on Sunday evening at the hotel, where 268 of its 565 rooms in the modern Tower wing are available.
The 105-year-old main section of the hotel is still closed, however, as its ornate wood and marble interiors require extensive renovation.
"There is still much work to do, but we are all determined to rebuild the Taj brick by brick until it outshines even its former glories," said the hotel's owner, Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata.
"We can be hurt, but we will never fall," he added.
The names of the 31 staff and guests who were killed have been inscribed on the hotel's existing 2m-high "Tree of Life" sculpture, which was not damaged during the three-day siege, as a memorial.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says that as normal life returns to Mumbai, the consequences of last month's attacks continue to reverberate around the region.
India has announced wholesale reform of its intelligence and security systems.
And the government continues to insist that Pakistan must do much more to crack down on militant groups in the country.
India has blamed the attacks on the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). LeT and the Pakistani government have denied any involvement.
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