Dubai: As the battle between Indian security forces and terrorists holed up in Mumbai's Taj Mahal Hotel simmered down yesterday, the hotel staff said they were united in grief with those who fell to terrorists' bullets.

Even as they empathised with families of their dead colleagues, they were particularly condoling with their general manager Karambir Kang in his hour of personal grief, who had lost his entire immediate family.

Gulf News yesterday contacted the hotel's public relations manager, Keerti Dingra, who said the staff was awaiting clearance to release details of the staff members killed, but confirmed Kang's family members were dead.

Asked whether their bodies were found in the mortuary or in the hotel room, she said: "I have not seen their bodies, so I cannot say whether they were found in their room or in the mortuary. I am just getting into the hotel now and I can't comment further."

However, a couple of hotel employees who spoke to Gulf News on condition of anonymity said Kang was from Mohali and that his wife Vinita and two sons, Uday, 14, and Samar, 5, lived in their official quarters at the hotel.

They said that putting his personal grief aside, Kang was seen reassuring the guests and helping to guide them to safety.

"They were in room No 641 located on the sixth floor.

"This is the same floor of the hotel wing where the terrorists struck with hand-grenades and a fire broke out on Thursday," said a hotel employee, who claimed to have witnessed the events.

"The fire brigade was doing its best to get the fire under control and evacuate all the people on the sixth floor, but I guess it was too late to save members of family," he added.

Promise: Vow to rebuild structure

Ratan Tata, the chairman of the Tata group that owns the Taj Mahal Hotel, yesterday surveyed the heritage building, which has suffered extensive damage in the three days of fierce gunbattles in Mumbai with the militants. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) said it is ready to offer its expertise in restoring the 105-year old structure.

The Tata group said it would "rebuild and restore every inch of the hotel to its original glory".

- IANS