Attacked Mumbai hotels to reopen

The new wing of the Taj Mahal hotel was built in the 1970s

Efforts are underway to open sections of two luxury hotels in Mumbai (Bombay) that were targeted during deadly attacks in the city last month.

Parts of the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower and of the Oberoi Trident will reopen on Sunday, the managements of the two hotels have announced.

The hotels were among some 10 sites targeted in attacks that left more than 170 people dead.

Both hotels have begun accepting bookings ahead of the reopening.

The 235 rooms in the new wing of the Taj hotel - called the Taj Mahal Tower - will reopen at 1900 IST (1330GMT) on Sunday, the management has announced. The hotel has 565 rooms in total.

"To reopen the Taj with such speed but with no loss of attention to details, shows our resolve to commemorate all the innocent and brave people who lost their lives during the terrorist attacks," said Raymond Bickson, managing director and chief executive of the Indian Hotels Company, which owns the hotel.

The company has not said when the older, heritage part of the 105-year-old hotel, which took the brunt of the attacks, will open.

Gunfire, grenade blasts, fires and water during the 60-hour siege has damaged the old wing considerably, reports say.

'Full glory'

It is still unclear how much of the hotel's elaborate decor - alabaster ceilings, hand-woven silk carpets and a rare art collection - has survived the siege. Taj officials have not yet commented on the extent of the damage.

Security will be tightened at the Trident hotel when it reopens

Correspondents say it may take several months, even a year, before the old wing of the landmark Mumbai hotel reopens.

The chairman of the Tata group of companies, Ratan Tata, has vowed to "rebuild every inch" and "bring back the Taj to its full glory".

The Trident hotel, part of the complex of two hotels called the Oberoi hotel at the Trident, will also reopen on Sunday.

"A round-the-clock effort is underway by the management and staff to ensure that the hotel is ready to receive guests," a statement issued by the hotel said.

Security will be strengthened at the hotel to ensure the safety of the guests, the statement added.

A total of 451 guests were evacuated from the two Oberoi group hotels during the siege, the management said.