Top managers at Unilever and its Indian subsidiary Hindustan Unilever had a narrow escape last night after terrorists attacked the Taj Hotel in Mumbai.
All of them were safely evacuated from the hotel late last night. The key executives were attending a farewell dinner for the outgoing Group CEO of Unilever, Patrick Cescau when the terrorists opened firing. An HUL spokesperson said they all heard the blasts but were safe inside the room. Cescau and the Unilever CEO-elect Paul Polman will fly out of Mumbai tonight, he said.
“Patrick, Paul and the rest of their party are all safe and accounted for. We are continuing to work to ensure the safety of all Unilever employees in Mumbai.Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected by these events,” a Unilever statement said.
Others at the dinner meeting included HUL Chairman Harish Manwani, CEO Nitin Paranjpe and Finance Director D Sundaram.
About 200 people were holed up inside a hall at the Taj last night and they were advised by the hotel staff not to go out because of the attack by terrorists. Some of them were later taken out in batches, sources familiar with the developments said.
The state-owned Doordarshan reported a few minutes back that all hostages at the Taj have been taken out and that the police will get the terrorists soon. Another unconfirmed report said there was a fresh explosion inside the hotel. So far six dead bodies have been taken out of the hotel.
Ispat Industries Commercial Director Vinod Garg and his wife were at a business dinner with the company’s customers from Spain, at the Trident Hotel in South Mumbai. No confirmation is available on whether they have also left the hotel. About seven to eight terrorists are still inside the Trident, police sources said.
Army commandoes moved into the luxury Oberoi and the Taj Mahal hotels to flush out terrorists holed up hours after an unspecified number of heavily armed gunmen went on a rampage in ten places in South Mumbai killing 101 persons and taking some foreigners hostage.