At least 40 Indians are reported missing after the terrorist strikes on the twin towers of World Trade Centre in New York on Tuesday. About 650 calls have been received by the two helplines set up by the Indian consulate general in New York, 40 of them from relatives and friends of missing Indians, an external affairs ministry spokesperson told reporters.
About five to 10 per cent of people working in the two towers are believed to be Indians. An estimated 50,000 persons work in each of the two centres.
The spokesperson did not want to hazard any guess on the casualty figure, saying ''we will await details'' from New York authorities carrying out the rescue operations.
An additional helpline has also been established in Room No.7, Patiala House in New Delhi by the Ministry of Extrenal Affairs to assist callers to know the welfare of their relatives who may be currently in New York.
The helpline number is 3381500 (four lines) and will be manned round the clock. The officers manning the helpline will be in constant touch with the consulate general at New York and the Indian embassy in Washington and pass on information received from them to the callers. Bureau Report