Sunday, August 26, 2007

Terror in Hyderabad

...is the headline screaming from the television and all the Indian newspapers this morning. Last night, as us World Partners Fellows enjoyed our last dinner together before the Hindi-learning group headed north and the Telugu-speaking group south, our field officer took a call on her cell phone just as the food arrived. She said everything was fine, though took several more calls during the meal.

When we arrived back at the hotel, she asked to speak alone with the 6 southern-bound fellows, which seemed like a normal request since she would be traveling North early the next morning, while we would be taking a 25-hour express train to Hyderabad the next evening. We would arrive Monday evening.

Once we were all together, she said: "Two bombs went off in Hyderabad tonight. We are canceling your train tickets and you are staying in Delhi until further notice."

So now we are in Delhi at our field officer's flat (she is up north), hanging out and waiting until we hear something. According to the India times, in addition to the 2 bombs that went off, they found 19 others that they diffused, in a variety of locations such as bus stops, each contained in a black plastic bag. The ones that did go off were in an amusement park during a laser show, and at a popular eatery. As it was Saturday night, both venues were quite crowded. The media is claiming that the blasts killed at least 41 people.

So now we wait.

3 comments:

Rachelle said...

Hi Myla - we're reading your blog and thinking about you and talking with your dad daily!

It sounds like you're in capable hands, so everything will be fine. How are you feeling?

Just stick with McVeggies for a while.

We love you!

Shannon said...

So glad you're safe!! Love the blog : )

Ben said...

That's a crazy situation. I hope everything turns out well for your plans and that you remain safe.

I hope you continue blogging!

my space counters Travel Top Blogs

About Me

United States
I wrote this blog while working at a women's resource center in Hyderabad, India through a social justice fellowship through American Jewish World Service.

When I think of India, I think of...

I would like Planet Bollywood better if it had: