Date:17/08/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/08/17/stories/2003081700890900.htm

International - India & World

Stranded New Yorkers get free Indian meal

New York Aug. 16. As New York reeled under a severe power cut, the action of an Indian restaurant owner here earned much praise for traditional Indian hospitality.

When the lights failed on Thursday night, several restaurants downed their shutters. Those that remained open doubled or tripled their prices but the stranded had nowhere else to go. As ATM machines did not work and credit cards became useless, those with little cash had a tough time.

But `Madras Mahal' on Lexington Avenue, owned by Nitin Vyas, offered free meals to the hungry. More importantly, it provided free cold water when the going rate for a small drinking water bottle was $ 5 dollars compared to the usual $1.

The restaurant served rice with the Punjabi dish 'Channa Bhatura' and tea, which was much in demand.

Even on Friday afternoon, there was a queue of hungry people outside the restaurant waiting for a free meal.

PTI