News from home: Worried expats call up relatives

Indian expatriates in Dubai were frantically trying to reach their loved ones in Mumbai to find out if they were safe.

Santosh Pillai was one such Dubai resident who was worried about his brother who works in the media, because he regularly frequents the Oberoi Hotel for press conferences. "I tried calling him at 9.30pm UAE time, but could not get through. I then called his wife, and when she told me she had spoken to him and that he was on the way home, I breathed a sigh of relief."

Gloreen G. who works as a sales coordinator for Procurio General Trading in Dubai, with branches in Mumbai and which supplies hotel equipment to Taj Hotel and Oberoi Hotel there, was frantically trying to reach her father back home for an hour. When he did not answer the phone, she was desperate.

‘Extremely worried'

"I was extremely worried, and was on tenterhooks. However around 10.15 UAE time, he called me to tell me that he and my brother who live in Kandivli, were safe and sound."

Shashikant Rai who works for Emirates NBD as senior sales supervisor called his wife in Mumbai who said they were about to go to sleep when one of their friends called her up to inform her of the news around 10.30.

John, who works in Bur Dubai, called up his niece Michelle on hearing the news since she is a frequent visitor to Leopold Café in Mumbai. "I was worried for her as she goes to Leopold quite often, but fortunately she had come home early today."

For Daya Shetty, however, there was to be no relief. His father works in South Mumbai. Despite frantically trying to reach his father at home until midnight there was no response. "I only pray he is safe. I will not be able to sleep tonight till I hear his voice."