By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Right now the situation in Cairo is a little normal compared to last three days, but it may change after the Friday Prayer as the demonstrators have called for a protest after the Namaz. They have given a deadline of Friday evening for President Hosni Mubarak to step down.
Giving latest update from the Egyptian capital city, Nazish Ehsan Hashmi, a software developer with an MNC, told TwoCircles.net on phone that the situation is a little better now compared to last two days when there were chaos on the road and even incidents of looting.
Anti-government protesters demonstrate in downtown Cairo [AP Photo/Mohammed Abu Zaid]
“It was very bad two days ago, a little better today, but things may change after Juma Prayers. In the last two days there were incidents of looting also,” said Hashmi who belongs to Samastipur district in Bihar and right now living in Nasr City, a suburb of Cairo.
About normal life, he said: Officially there is curfew every day from 3 pm to morning but no one follows it. Public is against the regime. Markets are open for 2-3 hours per day. Of late there is shortage of food particularly milk. Even ATMs are going cashless. He said the Indian Embassy sends him and other Indian nationals living in the Arabic-speaking African country. The Embassy has told them to have some cash with them as the ATMs were empty. Internet was also cut off but it has been restored.
Hashmi was scheduled to visit his home country on a regular vacation in March 2011 but the worsening situation compelled his family in Samastipur to ask him to change his schedule and come as early as possible. He is now leaving Egypt on 7th February.
In fact there are four Indians in the company where he works. Three are from Bihar and one from Uttar Pradesh. All are leaving Cairo on 7th Feb.
In the last few days several hundred Indians have left Egypt seeing the unprecedented public uprising against the regime of Hosni Mubarak. Officially, there are 3600 Indians in the country, of which 2200 are in Cairo.
Talking to TCN, an official at the Indian Embassy in Cairo said that many Indians are leaving the country seeing the turmoil. Though the Embassy does not have exact figure of those who have left because, the official said, many are leaving on their own and many through the special flights of Air India. Through the special flights of Air India 650 Indians have left the country so far, the official informed.
On the current situation, he said things may change after the Friday Prayers today as the protestors have called for a demonstration at Tahrir Sqaure. The Embassy is in touch with the Indians still living in the country, he informed.
The Indian Embassy in Cairo has set up a control room which is working 24 hours for the last one week. The numbers are +202- 27360556/ 27356168 / 27360052.
For those Indian Nationals who wish to return to India and if it is not possible to book on regular flights, the Indian Embassy is facilitating their travel by arranging special Air India commercial flights. Air India is charging INR 45000 for adults, INR 22,500 for children and INR 4500 for infants (less than 2 years of age).