CHENNAI: It was around 6 am on Saturday that a siren blared across Tel Aviv, a few seconds before the missile attacks by Hamas. Manoj Shanmugasundaram, pursuing PhD in a University in Tel Aviv and his friends rushed to the bomb shelter in the dormitory and have been there since then.
“I could hear gunshots and explosions initially. I have been in the shelter since yesterday morning. I have not stepped out and I have been cooking my own food. Usually a few minutes before the attack the siren goes off and everyone gets inside the bomb shelters,” explained 28-year-old Manoj. Some of his other friends from different parts of Tamil Nadu are also safe in bomb shelters in other parts of Tel Aviv. Like him many students and workers have taken refuge in bomb shelters in Tel Aviv, Israel. Their worried parents have been making frantic calls to them worried about their safety.
“My parents have been calling me regularly to check if I am safe. I tried contacting the Indian embassy staff here, but most of them are in shelters and asked us to be safe,” he explained.
Stephanie Elsie, a PhD student, staying in an Israeli settlement near the West Bank, said that things were normal there. “I am from Trichy. There was a siren around 3 pm on Saturday due to suspected infiltration. After those things returned to normalcy. My parents however are very worried and want me to return if there is any evacuation attempt,” she explained.
Liora Itzhak, an Israeli singer whose parents are from India, staying in Rehovot, a central district in Israel, said that her family was deep asleep when the attacks happened.
“My 16-year-old daughter alerted me about the bombing. A few seconds after that the attacks started. One bomb fell a few distance away from our place. We have been in the bomb shelter since 6.30 a.m on Saturday. There is heavy police presence in our locality and in other areas the army is taking out the infiltrators,” she explained.
The war has also impacted tourists from Chennai. “A team of 96 tourists who are on a pilgrimage are stuck in Egypt as entry to Israel has been blocked. But they are safe and staying in a resort,” said Joseph T T, Director of Oasis Tours India Pvt Ltd who organised the tour.
Some tourists have cancelled their trip to Israel scheduled in the coming days. “A team of 50 passengers were supposed to leave from Chennai and another 50 from Trivandrum. But we have called it off for now,” said Jibin, who runs Mangalam Travels and Tours.
Meanwhile the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils, has announced helpline numbers – 8760248625, 9940256444 and 9600023645 – to help those stranded in Israel and to coordinate any help.
“We have been getting calls since Saturday evening. None of them are frantic calls, but students from Israel and their parents here reached out to understand about evacuation measures,” said an official.
“I could hear gunshots and explosions initially. I have been in the shelter since yesterday morning. I have not stepped out and I have been cooking my own food. Usually a few minutes before the attack the siren goes off and everyone gets inside the bomb shelters,” explained 28-year-old Manoj. Some of his other friends from different parts of Tamil Nadu are also safe in bomb shelters in other parts of Tel Aviv. Like him many students and workers have taken refuge in bomb shelters in Tel Aviv, Israel. Their worried parents have been making frantic calls to them worried about their safety.
“My parents have been calling me regularly to check if I am safe. I tried contacting the Indian embassy staff here, but most of them are in shelters and asked us to be safe,” he explained.
Stephanie Elsie, a PhD student, staying in an Israeli settlement near the West Bank, said that things were normal there. “I am from Trichy. There was a siren around 3 pm on Saturday due to suspected infiltration. After those things returned to normalcy. My parents however are very worried and want me to return if there is any evacuation attempt,” she explained.
Liora Itzhak, an Israeli singer whose parents are from India, staying in Rehovot, a central district in Israel, said that her family was deep asleep when the attacks happened.
“My 16-year-old daughter alerted me about the bombing. A few seconds after that the attacks started. One bomb fell a few distance away from our place. We have been in the bomb shelter since 6.30 a.m on Saturday. There is heavy police presence in our locality and in other areas the army is taking out the infiltrators,” she explained.
The war has also impacted tourists from Chennai. “A team of 96 tourists who are on a pilgrimage are stuck in Egypt as entry to Israel has been blocked. But they are safe and staying in a resort,” said Joseph T T, Director of Oasis Tours India Pvt Ltd who organised the tour.
Some tourists have cancelled their trip to Israel scheduled in the coming days. “A team of 50 passengers were supposed to leave from Chennai and another 50 from Trivandrum. But we have called it off for now,” said Jibin, who runs Mangalam Travels and Tours.
Meanwhile the Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils, has announced helpline numbers – 8760248625, 9940256444 and 9600023645 – to help those stranded in Israel and to coordinate any help.
“We have been getting calls since Saturday evening. None of them are frantic calls, but students from Israel and their parents here reached out to understand about evacuation measures,” said an official.
