Expatriate Indians in the Emirates have launched a website to help victims of the bomb blasts that rocked India's western state of Gujarat on Saturday. The explosions in and around the city of Ahmedabad killed at least 45 people and injured more than 150 others. Praveen Moolchandani, a software engineer with family in Ahmedabad, said the website would be functional from today and would provide information and helpline numbers.
"I have relatives living very close to several blast sites and I panicked when I heard about the blasts. Thankfully, they are all safe but there are many who have been affected by the attack," said Mr Moolchandani. The website, www.careercrown.com/blast, will have information about the explosions and also provide contact numbers of welfare groups in Ahmedabad. The website urges expatriates to help victims of the bombings.
"We will also have an online survey asking people in UAE to provide information if any of their families have been affected by the blasts," said Mr Moolchandani. The city was hit by a series of 16 blasts, with the low-intensity bombs placed on bicycles and in lunch boxes across the city. The UAE's large Gujarati community was shocked by the blasts and made frantic calls to their families back home.
@Email:pmenon@thenational.ae
