A large number of Indians have been affected by the floods in Australia's Queensland province, especially in the capital city of Brisbane. About 10,000 students are estimated to be enrolled in Central Queensland University (CQU). Rockhempton is the district where the campus is located.
Several of those affected by the flash floods are students with many anxious parents trying to find out their whereabouts, said Gautam Gupta, spokesperson for the Federation of Indian Students of Australia (FISA).
Mr. Gupta suggested that support agencies are extending a helping hand and students must evacuate if advised by them. “During these difficult times, it is tough to try to save your businesses or worry about attendances. There are hundreds of good Samaritans across Australia who will open their homes to people being evacuated from the disaster hit area,'' said a FISA news release made available by the Melbourne-based South Asia Times .
“We are concerned that among those hit by this tragedy, several are Indian students. Some concerned parents have called to enquire about the situation. We have contacted people in our network in Brisbane to be updated on the situation. We will encourage all students to call us to keep us informed or if they need any assistance. However we would encourage everyone to first contact the established support services,'' said Mr. Gupta in the news release
The Queensland Government has set up a 24 hour information line at 1300 993 191 and all major media outlets are running info centres round the clock. The FISA has advised parents of students based in Brisbane to call these numbers.
