From Orkut to Bandra, all had prayed for Minal

“We have just learnt with great sorrow that apart from the Indian American professor, a first year student, Minal Panchal, is also among the victims,” Chhabra said.

A string of “hope you are fine” messages, which started early this morning from close friends in Orkut, had people from across the country enquiring about Minal and expressing concern. By 8.30 pm, there were 1,251 messages.

From strings like, “Hi, don’t know you personally but came to know about you in the news. My prayers are with you,” to “Hey I am Ashoke from Guwahati, Assam, India hope you are safe. You don’t know me. But as a well-wisher I pray to almighty God to keep you safe” to messages from strangers like “It’s believed that god hears prayers and fulfils the ones that are sincere, the whole nation is praying for you. I am confident you will be safe and sound, take care. God bless.”

In Borivali, the usually quiet street outside the Park View apartment, where Minal stayed until last year, was abuzz with activity. That was before she went to the US to pursue a career in architecture last August.

A “quiet and intelligent” girl was GP Bhivandkar’s closest friend’s younger daughter.

“I am really worried about what may have happened to her. She was my close friend’s daughter. She used to study really well and top her class,” said Bhivandkar.

Minal, the younger daughter of the Panchals, attended the Our Lady of Remedy School.

Her father, an architect himself, died five years ago after a bypass surgery.

Her mother shifted recently to New Jersey to live with her elder daughter Kavita.

Meanwhile, professors at Rizvi College, Bandra, from where Minal graduated with a first class in architecture, feared the worst. “Minal could be one of the victims,” said Jamshed Bhiwandiwalla, senior lecturer, who taught her. His fears were confirmed tonight.

(Swatee Kher, Mihika Basu and Smita Nair contributed to this report)