Nepalese residents of the UAE yesterday expressed deep shock over the massacre of their royal family in Narayaniti Palace in Kathmandu on Friday. They were anxious for more information and expressed concern for the safety and welfare of their families at home if political instability were to erupt.

D.V. Timpu, a Nepalese expatriate who came to the UAE three years ago, said, "What happened is very bad for the country. How could the Crown Prince wipe out his entire family just because his parents did not agree to his choice of bride? There is definitely more to this.

"The prince, as far as I can remember, was quite well behaved and respected his family. King Birendra was a good man who was not just a monarch but was looked upon as a father figure by his countrymen. He even paved the way to make Nepal a republic. It is very, very sad that such a thing should take place in an otherwise peaceful country like ours."

Anil Thapamagar, a cashier at a Dubai supermarket, said, "This is the first time that such an incident has happened within the four walls of the palace. I do not know much about it, but Nepal is heading for political turmoil."

Dhan Bahadur, who works in the customer service section of a shopping mall, said, "King Birendra symbolised Nepal. He was the king of the people. It is hard for me to believe that the palace will be without King Birendra and Queen Aishwarya. I had a lot of faith in our royals. Their very existence provided every Nepalese with a sense of pride."

Paritosh Kumar Yadav said, "King Birendra was like our protector. Nepal will miss him. My house is located just a few kilometres away from the palace and there were several occasions when I came face to face with the king. What made him popular was his ability to establish a rapport with the masses.

"When I heard the news on television, the first thing I did was to make a call home to ensure that my wife and children were fine. I was told that a curfew has been imposed and things are not getting any better. I am worried."

The Nepalese community in Abu Dhabi also expressed shock and grief. Some called it a national tragedy and a disaster. "It's a nightmare. I don't believe it," said Pawan Kumar Karanjeet.

Karanjeet, a hotel chef, said he had heard the news from a friend at 8am. "I simply could not believe it and still don't. I feel like this is a nightmare and I am asleep."

"This is the worst disaster our country has ever witnessed. King Birendra has always been popular among the people. He was good for the country, and became even more famous after restoring democracy."