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Indian businessmen stranded in NY

Suleman Din

Many Indian businessmen in New York were stranded after entry and exit points in the city were sealed off and airports across the country were closed.

Asif Bhaidu, a 29-year-old information technology professional, said he was in his hotel room in uptown Manhattan when the World Trade Center was attacked on Tuesday.

"I was going for a shower when I heard a commotion and went down to check what happened," said the native of Toronto.

In New York for a project meeting, he said he was greeted by pandemonium on the streets, which continued for hours after the early morning attacks.

"From morning to late afternoon, everything was chaotic," he said. "All you could hear were sirens. People crowded around any store that had television sets to watch news broadcasts."

He said that from his office on 7th and 53rd Street, he could see the debris following the explosions and plumes of clouds swallowing up streets.

Bhaidu said he checked out of his hotel, but then decided to head back after he had to contend with heightened security.

"The hotel was rejecting everyone," he said. "But since I just checked out, they gave me my room back. I still had to show my passport. However, the security at the hotel would not let my friend in. He had checked out earlier than me, and only when he showed his checkout invoice did they let him stay with me."

With the United States-Canada border closed, and no commercial flights, Bhaidu was worried about how he could get home.

"I can't get out of the city and my flight is at night," he said. "I don't know if I want to take the flight now."

The Attack on America: The Complete Coverage

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