Classical dancer Mamomi, a Japanese, hospitalised at Kalinga stadium in Bhubaneswar and (below) Japanese Odissi dancer Masak Ono checks out the situation in Japan on the internet. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, March 12: The devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan have left the Japanese living in Orissa trembling.

Momomi, a 24-year-old Japanese Odishi dancer, struggled for words to express her grief. All that she could manage to say was, “I am sad, heart broken.”

At present, she is undergoing treatment at a private hospital here for an injury sustained in a road accident a few days ago.

The danseuse, who has been making frequent visits to Orissa since 2006 for picking up the nuances of Odissi, had returned from Japan five months ago and was planning to go back again on March 18. On hearing about her accident, Momomi’s parents flew down from Japan last week.

Her father, said: “We had a similar disaster in our town Hyogo 17 years ago. But we were able to rebuild the town then. However, with the kind of devastation we have seen this time, it would take nearly five to seven years to rebuild the country. I want to go back to Japan and help my people.” He did not wish to be named because of security reasons.

Throughout the day, the hospital saw a rush of fans to console the 24-year-old Japanse girl. “I came to express solidarity with her and her country in this moment of calamity. We are just as worried about the Japanse people,” said social activist Subhashree Patanik.

Masako Ono, another Japanese learning Odisssi here, has been glued to her laptop since the time the tragedy struck.

“I am completely devastated. I spoke to my family members — my mother and brother — last night. But I am yet to contact my younger sister who had left Tokyo for a ballet performance,” said the 32-year-old dancer.

Just last week Masako had returned to Bhubaneswar after spending some time with her family in Japan. “One of the nuclear plants blew up some time ago. Radiation has begun. The nation as a whole is suffering. I am really concerned about my people and country. I will tell my parents to come to Orissa for the time being so that they have some rest and escape the radiation threat,” she added.

Masako has been visiting Orissa since 1996 and now imparts Odissi lessons to nearly 50 students, including a few from Japan.

While the Japanse living in Orissa are concerned about their families and friends back home, Oriyas with relatives in Japan are equally worried.

Srimanta Kumar Das, one of the members of the Indo- Japan friendship society, said his family members were worried about his sister and brother-in-law who are in Japan. “Although they have contacted us, we didn’t get an opportunity to talk at length,” he said.

The society has also created a sand sculpture on the Puri beach to express solidarity with the people of Japan.