Friday, July 8 2005 20:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: There will be no change in the UK visa regime in the wake of the terrorist attacks in London, British High Commissioner Michael Arthur said today (July 8, 2005).

"The visa regime has been open for bonafide travellers. There is no reason to change the visa regime," Arthur told reporters when asked whether Britain was contemplating visa restrictions.

Arthur also did not see any backlash on Asian community or minorities in Britain as was witnessed in the post 9/11 strikes in the US. "Most unlikely," he said stressing that Britain has a very multicultural and diverse society.

"The mood in London is very strong" of getting on with normal business and not let terrorists win by stopping regular business, he said.

Asked whether Indians figured in the list of dead and injured, he said, "I have no such information. But I do not exclude that. I simply do not have enough information on that given the immediacy and the scale of the attacks," he said.

He said a Casualty Bureau emergency hotline has been opened in the UK for concerned friends and relatives. It is 0044 870 1566 344. A Government public information line has also been set up. It is 0044 800 321 000.

The latest updates will be available on www.ukinindia.com.

Britain, he said, appreciated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's robust statement extending support to the British Government in combating global terrorism.

He said according to information received till this evening, the toll in the bomb explosions in the underground stations and a double decker bus was 50 and 700 sustained injuries of which 22 were in serious condition.

Arthur said this was not the first time the terrorist attacks have taken place in the UK.

People in London were getting back to business and the markets have responded positively, he said adding these were signs of solidarity and efforts to ensure that terrorists did not achieve their nefarious designs.

Describing Britain and India as very close, he said a large number of Indians have been living in the UK for many years. He said three lakh Indian nationals were being given multi-entry visa for Britain this year.

To a question, Arthur said he saw no reason to believe that British interests in India would be affected in any manner.

The main talks before the British Government were to ensure the best medical treatment possible to the victims, get after the perpetrators of this "terrible" crime and realise the urgent need to get back to normal life.