Residents awake to find cars mysteriously moved

Dubai: Some Karama residents got a rude shock on Monday when they did not find their cars at the spot they had parked.

A frantic call to emergency number 999 revealed that some of the cars had been towed and parked in adjacent areas for security reasons.

Mess

"The policeman on patrol was kind enough to help me find my car, which was parked on the next lane," said Nasser, a Palestinian. "It was a mess on the street yesterday."

Abdullah, a financial manager in Ajman, woke up early in the morning on Monday but was also unable to find his parked car anywhere in his neighbourhood.

He said that he, along with other residents, searched for their vehicles. "When I eventually enquired with police patrolling the area I was informed that for 'security reasons' some cars had been towed to other areas and that I should call 999 to know where the car is," said Abdullah.

"I parked my car as close as I could to my residential area and was forced to walk quite a distance to get back home."

Some informed

People living on the road leading to Maktoum Bridge said they were informed by their building watchman early in the morning to park their cars somewhere behind the building.

"My watchman said that he received orders from the police patrol. According to him it was for security reasons because President George Bush is going around the city," said Sriram, a Bur Dubai resident.

"I paid a private parking lot Dh25 to just get my car parked safely after I was asked to move it from where it was parked under my building," said Shailesh Shah, of Bur Dubai.

Bur Dubai: Blocked at every turn

Drivers who tried to reach Shaikh Zayed Road through Deira ended up going in circles as all roads leading to Shaikh Zayed Road were closed. But they escaped the heavy traffic congestion reported in other parts of Dubai.

Those going to Shaikh Zayed Road on the floating bridge, the only bridge open, were forced to head back as the all the exits to Bur Dubai were blocked.Traffic was smooth on the major roads, but inner roads were partly congested as police patrols asked motorists to turn back.

Doa'a Sulaiman, an account executive, said that it was very frustrating to keep driving in circles as no road information was given. "I really didn't know where to go. Every time I tried to find an exit to Shaikh Zayed Road it was blocked and the policemen did not know which roads were open," she said adding that she finally find her way back to Sharjah.

Haifa Khaled had to go to work despite the holiday. She spent more than three hours on the road before giving up.

"After going in circles for more than an hour, I decided to try Emirates Road but all exits to Bur Dubai were closed," she said.

- Wafa Issa, Staff Reporter