My family are a part of the hotel now: Taj GM

As the fire and the gunbattle raged inside Mumbai's iconic Taj Palace hotel, the flaming façade concealed a story of incredible loss and heroism. Trapped inside the burning sixth floor was the family of Taj Palace General Manager Karambir Kang - his wife Niti and two sons - 14-year-old Uday and five-year-old Samar.

Karambir watched helplessly as the fire gutted the floor, he had no access to them because of the ongoing encounter.

By Thursday morning it was clear that only a miracle could have saved Karambir's family and others on that floor, but the Taj GM found the courage to stand his ground - to battle his own terrible tragedy, and help the evacuation process so others may live. CNN-IBN's Raksha Shetty spoke to him in this exclusive interview.

Raksha Shetty: It was a superhuman effort to carry on with the rescue operations after hearing your family was affected. What was it that kept you going?

Karambir Kang: I thought they may still be alive. That was there in my mind. I instinctively did what was the right thing to do at that moment. My staff was around me. They were the real heroes, not me. It was my staff, the policemen who were all risking their lives. I am the General Manager, I had to take the lead. I had to be the leader. No other thought came to me. That was the way it was.

Raksha Shetty: In what way were you involved with the rescue operations for all those days -- coordinating with security agencies, evacuation, etc?

Karambir Kang: I came there 45 minutes after the incident. By then there were just a few people from the Anti-Terrorism Squad. I was giving them directions, I was on the phone with my wife. I took them to that point. Then the MARCOS (marine commandos) came. I was showing them where the CCTVs were, what the plans were. I was on the telephone with guests. It was a blur of things. I was getting calls from people trapped. At that moment, I did whatever best I could do.

Raksha Shetty: You're still involved with the restoration work at the Taj. Where is this strength coming from?

Karambir Kang: My family are a part of the hotel now. They are there. That was my real strength. I need to be involved and will be in restoring it better than what it was. My family died there. I see them there. I can't let them down and let the terrorists win.

Raksha Shetty: To other families who have faced losses like yours, what is your message to them?

Karambir Kang: I grieve with them because I know what they're going through. In the grieving, we have to heal, not let them down, work towards a greater purpose, do deeds that will make them proud of us.

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