The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Anxiety among Indians working in Japan

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Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011
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Karnataka - Bangalore

Anxiety among Indians working in Japan

Deepa Kurup

BANGALORE: The news alert on Tuesday morning that “a considerable amount of radiation” had been detected in Chiba prefecture, bordering east Tokyo, triggered panic among employees who had come in to work, says Mathews John, a software employee in Larsen & Toubro, who interacted with The Hindu over email chat on Tuesday.

Soon, his company, like many others that have onsite units in Tokyo, sent a communiqué asking employees to head back and offered support to enable them to fly to India. “We have been told that Tokyo is safe now, but it is likely that things will get worse. The mood is that of uncertainty. There was a frantic rush for tickets home, and by the time I got online I only got a ticket for Friday,” he explained. His company has declared Wednesday a holiday, and asked 120 of its staff to head back.

Shabeer, who works for a Japanese hardware firm, sent his family back to India on Tuesday. “Things are calm here now. But there's certainly a sense of apprehension.” He said the Indian Embassy, when contacted, offered to extend any support required and said it was trying to see if Air India flights could be arranged.”

Japanese also worried

Mr. Mathews John explained that the Japanese workers are worried too, and have planned to move south, towards Osaka, if the threat of radiation spreading mounts.

Mr. Shabeer, who hails from Uppala in Kasargod in Kerala, says he is in touch with family members via Skype and email, and wants people back home to stop panicking. “I was worried for my two-year-old daughter and wife, so I sent them home. I haven't booked my ticket yet. All of us here are in touch with the Embassy and their emergency lines are very responsive.” He is worried about the planned strike by Air India pilots, which may disrupt flights between Japan and India.

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