Because of the drills, the employees were familiar with the exits to be used in emergency situations. And they did it to escape when bullets were flying around.
Devendra Bharma, executive vice president, Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, Mumbai, had last week told the media that the presence of mind of the Trident staff and the evacuation drills had saved many lives.
In an e-mail to The Indian Express, he had said, Fire safety and evacuation drills are held once every 45 to 60 days. The frequency is set by the hotels security experts. According to Bharma, all employees at the Oberoi and Trident were trained in fire and safety drills. Plus, a core team of 100 members were given additional training by the local authorities. They were intensively trained on evacuation procedures, he said.
Not only Oberois 1,500-odd employees, but other five-star hotels also vouch for their security training.
According to Keshav Balaji, vice-president of corporate affairs at Royal Orchid Hotels, while their hotels across the nation diligently practised security drills, they are now planning to update the drills. The drills included basic exercises like evacuation and fighting fires. After the terror attacks, we want to introduce newer drills.
After stepping up training to include rescue of guests in case of a terrorist attack, the hotel chain was likely to make the drill a permanent feature, Balaji said.
At Leela Kempinski, Andheri, mock fire drills to check the response time of the dedicated Fire Fighting Team (FFT) is conducted at least once a month, security manager Pirooz Balsara said. The FFT has personnel from the engineering department, security and the front office. Balsara said that following the attacks, they plan to broaden safety drills and involve more departments as well as guests.
At ITC Hotel Grand Central Sheraton & Towers, an employee said, We have frequent drills and all the employees participate. Drills are conducted in batches and usually, a core team is given the training, which in turn, trains others. The hotel also has an internal quiz wherein everyday a question relating to safety is put to employees. Each employee is given a fire safety manual.
Our bell man always shows the map and the closest exit to guests. Now people have become more aware and have started paying attention too.
An official at Marine Plaza, another hotel in Marine Drive, popular for its foreign business tourists added, We have taken several safety measures. We have installed CCTVs on each floor. We have outsourced a top security organisation to guard our entrance as well as conduct regular drills. We are getting new x-ray machines. Our gates are kept closed and every car is thoroughly checked.
Leela too has blocked many exit points for guests and monitors them from one gate. Private cars, taxis and other vehicles are being stopped at the main entrance and guests being transferred to pre-screened Leela cars.
Bonafide identity cards have been made mandatory for guests and staff alike, and door frame metal detectors are installed at every entry and exit points, officials said. A press release by the hotel shortly after the attacks said that on red alert, The Leela had taken all appropriate steps to bolster security.
Security measures include CCTVs at strategic places to monitor guest and staff movement at all times, patrolling by sniffer dogs, thorough checking of all vehicles and metal detectors to screen all luggage.
Luggage scanners would soon be installed, the release stated.