Control rooms for Indian nationals in cyclone-hit Oman

NEW DELHI: With severe cyclone hitting Oman, India on Thursday said it was ascertaining the safety of its 3.86 lakh nationals in the sultanate.

Two round-the-clock control rooms have been set up -- one in External Affairs Ministry here and another in the Indian Embassy in Muscat -- to help Indian nationals in Oman.

"Our embassy is in constant touch with Omani authorities to ascertain the safety of Indian citizens," External Affairs Ministry said in a statement here.

The embassy is also trying to get in touch with the Indian community in various parts of Oman to ascertain their safety.

All personnel of the embassy and their family members are safe.

Those wishing to reach the Indian Embassy can contact the control room at -- 00968-24813838 and 00968-24812936. The fax number is 00968-24811607.

The control room number in Delhi is 011-23015300. The fax number is 011-23018158.

Supercyclone 'Gonu', with winds up to 170 kilometers per hour slammed into Oman's eastern coast and waves up to 12 meters high lashed out at the coastal towns.

The cyclone also dropped heavy rains on Oman's capital, Muscat, and other nearby towns where roads were empty as most people stayed indoors.