Management gets control of Taj Hotel

The Taj Group today said security agencies have handed over control of the Taj Mahal Hotel to it, two days after the last of terrorists were killed.

"In the early hours of December 1, the security authorities handed control of the Taj Mahal Palace and Towers back to the Taj Group," a statement by the group said.

However, certain parts of the property are still inaccessible, either due to the continuing security investigations or for safety reasons, it added.

The building has been placed under as tight a seal as possible until a full risk assessment has been completed with immediate effect, it said.

Access to the hotel buildings is only being given to a limited number of specialist personnel.

"This is due to the need to remove all potential sources of risk arising from the attack," it said, adding that an assessment team would be carrying out an initial survey of the property during this afternoon.

Sections of the building also require specialist assessment to establish their structural integrity, but these surveys will not be initiated until the risk assessment is complete, it added.