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Shubhra Tandon

Mumbai, Dec. 1 The Oberoi Group has started to put together its shattered pieces of life, with senior management speaking to employees to boost their morale, and pay homage to those who laid down their lives in service. Trident will be open in the next 10-12 days.

However, given that the damage in the older Oberoi Hotel has been greater, it would take at least three to four months for that part of the property to commence operations again, a company source told Business Line. The management is still assessing the cost of damage, which will be known shortly.

On a sultry Monday afternoon, a handful of guests were also seen coming out of the hotel, with the luggage that they had left behind. Narrating the scenes inside the Trident, one of them who came to collect the baggage of a friend said, “I am pleasantly surprised that the damage in this part has not been much and hoping that it will be opened shortly.”

An Israeli national who came to settle his bills said, “I wanted to pay my bills but they (the hotel) refused to accept it.” On a question, if he would come back to India, he said, “I am not deterred by this incident and will come back to Mumbai again.”

No less than Mr P.R.S. Oberoi, Chairman and Chief Executive, along with other senior management, spoke to the staff of Trident and Oberoi hotels. A condolence meeting was also held at all ‘Oberoi’ and ‘Trident’ hotels and at the headquarters and other corporate offices of The Oberoi Group.

According to the source, the Chairman’s address was shared with the General Manager of the hotels and senior executives of the entire Oberoi Group, which was read out. Thereafter, the staff observed a moment of silence remembering and honouring members of the staff who had lost their lives.

Mr Oberoi commended his staff for their “courage and selfless service” towards the guests. He expressed his sincere thanks to all the team members for their selfless devotion to duty. “In the true spirit of The Oberoi Group, you have put the guests before yourselves,” an employee quoted Mr Oberoi as having said.

The Chairman also assured that all members of the staff will be reinstated. All assistance will be extended to the injured, and support to the families of the staff that lost their lives.

It was also understood that Mr Vikram Oberoi, Joint Managing Director, and Mr S.S. Mukherji, Vice-Chairman of The Oberoi Group, had visited most of the families of the staff who passed away in the tragedy.

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