Pallavi and her husband Naynesh Patel with friends Sheela and Suresh Patel were at Tunisia on 26 June, when 30 Britons lost their lives to terrorism.
Speaking to Asian Voice, in an exclusive interview Pallavi narrated how they were saved by Goddess Amba on that fateful day.
Pallavi Patel, 57, is originally from Uganda, came to the UK during Idi Amin's expulsion with her family. Her husband, 58 year old Naynesh, is originally from Bhadran, Gujarat and runs a newsagent shop in Milton, Cambridge. Sheela Patel and Suresh Patel also from Cambridge, run a Post office in Chesterton.
These two group friends suddenly decided to go to Tunisia and booked their holiday at Riu Imperial Marhaba hotel from 18 June to 27th June with with Thomson.
While on vacation, their daily routine included good breakfast at the hotel, after which they headed to the beach, and spent most of their time on the beach. But on 26th June, they decided to go shopping to the town center. They came back to the resort after a brief trip; the taxi drove through the open gate and they were dropped near the lobby, though usually a taxi was never allowed beyond the main gate of the resort.
Sheela went upstairs to change to beach clothes, while Pallavi went to the hotel gift shop first and then headed to the room to change, before they planned to hit the beach. Suddenly Pallavi and Naynesh heard gun shots, which they first thought were firecrackers. When they peeped out of the balcony, Naynesh saw people running into the resort, while the gunshots continued. A resort staff, a cleaner and a Caucasian tourist pleaded him to let them enter his room through the balcony and he gave them shelter.
The staff switched the tv on and they learnt about the gruesome terrorist activity that has taken many lives. The tourist who took shelter in their room, spoke about her husband, who was partially blind and was at the pool side, whom she feared to have lost in the massacre.
They pulled curtains and lay on the floor, till the staff received 'an all clear' text from the hotel management.
Pallavi and Naynesh took their passport and ticket and headed to Sheela and Suresh's room, planning to leave the resort immediately. Standing in their room, the two couples watched ambulance taking injured and dead people (wrapped in towels) away.
Shocked at witnessing this mayhem, they continued to text their children in the UK, while Pallavi's son forwarded their details to Home Office for assistance.
Pallavi is currently receiving medical counseling, while the British authorities continue to speak to them upon their return, to gather more information on the incident.
Pallavi told Asian Voice, “So many friends I made on this trip have lost their lives. Thomson has refunded the full money for our holiday and have apologised for our experience. But I believe Ambaji (Goddess Durga) have saved us. If we did not go shopping on that day, we would have also lost our lives in this massacre. Thank you Ambaji for saving our lives.”
