The news of serial blasts that rocked Assam on Thursday, have sent shivers among the Assamese students in the city. A word from home was all they wanted to hear. The tension was palpable as students huddled to each other.

“Phone networks are jammed. No mobilephones are contactable. I am worried about my family as I haven’t been able to contact them since morning. I first got the news from a friend and they said the situation is heated up. The only way I can keep myself updated is through news channels,” said Krishna Rajkhowa of Lakhimpur near Guwahati, a student of ISBM. “I will stay with a friend from Assam today, so that if any news from home will be accessible to both of us,” Rajkhowa said.

“Going by the news channels, the areas that have been affected by the blasts are just one or two kilometres away from my home. Till now, I just know that all in my family are safe. But I don’t have any news of my other relatives and friends as all telephone lines are jammed. Maybe, I will go online and try to get in touch with them over instant chat or e-mail,” said 29-year-old Kamal Kumar Tanti, a software professional.

As news channels flash visuals from blast scenes, they only add to the tension. Says another software professional Amanyabarta Chakraborty, “the visuals and reports on the channels and internet sites are disturbing. The blasts seem massive and caused enormous damage to life and property. My family has informed that the situation is tense there. At the moment, we are concerned about the life of our loved ones.”

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