After storming the Taj Mahal hotel, terrorists ran up to the residential suite of the general manager, Karambir Kang, the exact location of which they appeared to know. The general manager’s wife, Neeti, and their two children — Uday (14) and Samar (5) — were killed in a fire that followed.

Such a precise attack, according to hotel employees who spoke to The Indian Express on the condition that their names not be used, shows the degree of planning and calculation behind the terrorists’ attack and the hold-up. These sources said that the number of dead in the hotel could be “much higher” than the estimated 80 to 100.

Sources said that the gunmen entered the hotel after the shootout at Leopold’s Restaurant at around 9:30. The manner in which they entered the Taj seemed to show that they were very well-acquainted with the hotel: they entered the Palace Wing through the La-Pat Door and then headed to the main entrance.

The La-Pat door is normally shut to the public. However, due to corporate meetings scheduled for that evening, as well as a wedding, this door was left open.

The two gunmen marched straight to the main lobby and opened fire. They were armed with AK-47s and satchels of grenades — one carrying three, the other two slung over his shoulder and in front, they met with other gunmen.

The second group had jumped over the metal gate opposite the Diplomat Hotel which abutted the poolside. They moved about the hotel, shooting, with almost

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