Frantic online search for missing Dubai expats

A frantic online search for two missing Dubai expatriates is ongoing on Twitter. Indian national Juno Srivastava and British national Lorraine Campbell, employees of a leading automotive company in Dubai, are missing, according to co-workers.

A source close to Juno’s family said: “Juno and Lorraine were staying in the Cinnamon Grand Hotel. They were visiting Colombo for a business meeting. We have not heard from Juno since the blasts. Hotel staff said they were seen close to the hotel entrance just a few moments ahead of the blasts.” Tweets from family and friends also suggest that Juno and Lorraine were moved to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka in Colombo. However, there was no information about their whereabouts afterwards. Family members have been tweeting at the Twitter handles of the Indian High Commission and the British High Commission in Colombo.

The Indian High Commission tweeted in response to a query about Juno from the handle @indiainSL: “We are aware of his (Juno’s) presence in Colombo. We are trying to find his whereabouts.”

Another Dubai resident, Preetha Harilal, was worried about her husband Harilal Rajendran since he departed for Sri Lanka a day ahead of the blasts. However, Harilal had moved out of Colombo on April 19, to travel to Kandy City.

Preetha said: “He went on a tour and was staying close to St Antony’s Shrine in Colombo. He even visited the shrine on the previous day. Fortunately, he was in a safe place and nothing happened to him. We were worried sick.”

Speaking to Khaleej Times from Kandy city, Harilal said: “The phone lines and social media were shut down, and a curfew was imposed. We did not know how to get around.”