Parents spend anxious moments unable to reach their children

Dubai: Parents whose children are vacationing in Ahmedabad say they had a tough time getting in touch with their relatives as all phone lines were jammed just after the serial bomb blasts.

Anjuman Joshi, a mother, said bomb blasts in India or anywhere in the world make her angry.

"But for first time my family members were living in the affected city and I was not able to reach them. My mum and dad are in Ahmedabad, and my seven-year-old son is vacationing with them. From 6 pm on Saturday, I was desperately trying to reach my father's mobile, but in vain. The bloody images aired on television sent shivers down my spine. It was only after receiving a call from them saying that they were all fine and had reached home safe, that I could heave a sigh of relief," she said.

Similar sentiments were expressed by Govind Gandhi who runs a textile shop in Bur Dubai. His family is vacationing in Maninagar where one of the bombs exploded. He said: "My wife and children are with my parents in Maninagar. I was not able to get in touch with my family and it nearly drove me to tears. I was not even able to get in touch with other relatives who live in other cities in Gujarat as communication lines were jammed."

It was around 11 pm on Saturday that Gandhi finally got to speak to his wife on her mobile. "I was so relieved to hear her voice. I just broke down and cried listening to her voice. My children were asleep but I insisted that she wake them up so that I could speak to them as well," he said.

Gandhi said he is planning to leave for Ahmedabad on the next available flight.

Nilesh Shah has already left for Gujarat via Mumbai. Before leaving he spoke to Gulf News and said that he was going to bring back his wife and his only daughter, currently spending their holidays in Ahmedabad with his bother and sister-in-law.

"I know that she will be taken care of well, but being a parent in times like these I want to be with my family. I was scared hearing about the the blood-splattered bodies lying on the road. The communication lines were jammed for nearly four hours after serial blasts occurred," he said.