Former Taj Hotel Manager Reflects on 26/11 Mumbai Attacks
Karambir Kang, the former General Manager of the Taj Hotel in Mumbai, shared his harrowing memories of the 26/11 terror attacks on its 15th anniversary. In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Kang recounted the tragic loss of his wife and two young sons during the attack. He revealed that his family resided on the hotel’s sixth floor.
Kang’s day started off like any other. He attended team briefings and left for an event around 7:30 PM. However, at 9:15 PM, he received a call informing him of gunshots heard at the hotel. Initially, he thought it might be another gang-related incident. But as more calls poured in, reporting the same situation, he realized something grave was happening. Upon his return to the hotel, chaos and devastation greeted him. TV reporters swarmed the scene, and inside, grenade residues littered the floor. The Taj Hotel no longer felt like the luxurious establishment it once was.
A staff member informed Kang that terrorists were moving around the hotel, killing people and taking hostages. With only a few police officers and hotel security personnel as their security, Kang called for a staff meeting. The number of terrorists remained uncertain, with conflicting reports ranging from 4 to 10. With approximately 2000 guests trapped in different areas of the hotel, Kang and his team initiated measures to ensure their safety. They called every room, instructing guests to switch off lights and appear unoccupied. They also aided guests on the ground floor in escaping through back entrances or the lobby.
During this ordeal, Kang managed to communicate with his wife, Neeti, and urged her to stay in their room with their sons, Samar and Uday, and find a safe hiding spot. Neeti reassured him, saying they would be okay. The night was long and filled with the sound of gunshots that drowned out the usual traffic noise of the bustling city. Kang relied on his instincts to navigate the chaos. At 3 AM, he called Neeti again, promising to rescue them as soon as possible. But before he could finish his sentence, gunshots interrupted their call.
The devastating news reached Kang that the terrorists had set fire to the sixth floor, where his family was located. He rushed to the scene but was physically restrained from entering the smoke-filled room. The unimaginable had happened; his wife and sons, aged 40, 12, and 5, respectively, were trapped and unable to escape.
After three days, when the terrorists were finally neutralized, the city began to regain a sense of safety. However, for Kang, the nightmare had just begun. The emotions he had suppressed came rushing back. The Taj Hotel, where he had met Neeti at the age of 23, became the place where he tragically lost her and their children. Unable to bear the sight, he chose not to view their bodies.
After taking a break, Kang returned to the hotel during its reconstruction. Witnessing the rebuilding process, brick by brick, aided his healing. However, he could never summon the courage to enter his sixth-floor room again.
Currently residing in the United States, Kang has become an advocate for victims of terrorism. He spoke at the first UN Global Congress of Victims of Terrorism, highlighting the loss he endured and calling for international collaboration in seeking justice for such acts. Kang emphasized that while the terrorists met their fate, the individuals behind the planning, financing, and organization of the attack remain free. He urged the international community to unite in seeking justice and defying terrorism.
In a remarkable act of resilience, the Taj Hotel reopened within 21 days of its destruction, a testament to the courage of Kang’s staff members and the strong familial culture embedded within the TATA and Taj group.
