World | India
Arab families called police control for help
Arab families trapped in Mumbai's terror attacks had desperately called up the Police Control room for help, Gulf News has learnt.
- By Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
- Published: 23:19 November 29, 2008
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Arab families trapped in Mumbai's terror attacks had desperately called up the Police Control room for help, Gulf News has learnt.
An officer who refused to be named said there were at least two calls from Arab speaking families on the night of terror. "But they could not speak English or Hindi and were unable to explain any thing. And I did not know Arabic either and could not follow what they were trying to say," said the police officer.
According to him, both the calls were from women who were crying over the phone and he could hear them saying 'Allah, Allah!'
Assurance
"I kept on telling them in Hindi not to panic and just remain where they are and not to open their doors. I don't think they understood a word I said," he said.
He added that he is hoping that the women were among the rescued from the hotels and they have reached home safe.
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The officer said the second call also they received was from a woman who could speak only Arabic. "I assume they are from Oman, because I think she was trying to say that she is from Oman," said the officer.
Many hotels in Mumbai still have Emiratis staying in them, despite the fact that UAE consulate in Mumbai is sending their citizens safely home.
Rahman Humaid, from Dubai who was staying with his wife in Regency Hotel, which is close to the Taj, said he is leaving for Dubai because their medical treatment is over.
A staff from the hotel said they still have at least four UAE national families still staying with them. "Today morning, we were trying to call a doctor for an Emirati woman who got some injuries in her leg. But because of the situation outside, the doctor did not arrive and the women were very angry," said the hotel staff.
Escort Hotel also said they have UAE nationals staying there for the whole week. "Nobody has cancelled their room bookings," said a hotel staff.
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