Hyderabad police have placed the state of Andhra Pradesh on high alert as a result of the arrest of Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy on Sunday evening. According to media reports, the police announced a high alert across the state of Andhra Pradesh to guard against possible backlash by agitated supporters of the YSR Congress Party, including tight restrictions of the movement of vehicles and people. U.S. citizens traveling or residing in Andhra Pradesh are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, remain aware of their surroundings, avoid crowed places, and monitor local news reports.
U.S. citizens traveling and residing abroad should enroll in the Smart Travelers Enrollment Program (STEP). U.S. citizens without internet access may enroll directly at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at their destination. By enrolling, U.S. citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
Updated information on travel and security may be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. For further information, please consult the Worldwide Caution and other consular information, including Country Specific Information, for specific countries. These products and the latest international travel information for U.S. citizens are available on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. You can also download our free Smart Traveler iPhone app to have travel information at your fingertips.
U.S. citizens with questions or concerns may contact the American Citizens Services Unit of the Embassy or the Consulates General for further information:
- The U.S. Embassy in New Delhi is located at Shanti Path, Chanakya Puri 110021; telephone +91-11-2419-8000; fax +91-11-2419-8587. For after-hours emergencies, please call the 24-hour operator at (+91-11) 2419-8000 and ask for American Citizen Services.
- The U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai (Bombay) is located at C-49, G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex, Bandra East, Mumbai 400051Phone: (22) 2672-4000. For after-hours emergencies, please call the 24-hour operator at (+91-22) 2672-4000 and ask for American Citizens Services. If you are calling from within India, but outside Mumbai, first dial 022.
- The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai (Madras) is at 220 Anna Salai, Gemini Circle, 600006, telephone +91-44-2857-4000; fax +91-44-2811-2027. For after-hours emergencies, please call the 24-hour operator at (+91-44) 2857-4000 and ask for American Citizen Services. If you are calling from within India, but outside Chennai, first dial 044-.
- The U.S. Consulate General in Kolkata (Calcutta) is at 5/1 Ho Chi Minh Sarani, 700071; telephone +91-33-3984-2400; fax +91-33-2282-2335. For after-hours emergencies, please call our primary hotline cell phone (91) 99030 42956. If unable to reach the cell phone, please call (91) (33) 3984-2400 and dial “0″ and ask for the Duty Officer.
About the Author: Constantina Patronas serves as an incoming abduction officer in Overseas Citizen Services, Office of Children.s Issues.
My job as an abduction country officer in the Office of Children’s Issues is rewarding and challenging. International Parental Child Abduction (IPCA) cases are usually complicated, often heartbreaking, but also gratifying. Much work is involved in ensuring the return of a child, which may even be through a voluntary resolution between the parents. This is a snapshot of my “average” day.
The mission of the Office of Children’s Issues Abduction Division is to assist in the resolution of international parental child abduction cases. In many countries, the Hague Abduction Convention is the primary vehicle to do so. Our office serves as the United States Central…
If you are not sure about where your child was taken, locating your child is the top priority. Frequently, the abducting parent goes to great lengths to keep this location hidden, such as changing the name of the child. You are not alone, however, in this search. There are resources available to help you find your child. Some of these resources are listed below. Our office will work with you to access these resources to try to locate your child as quickly as possible
U.S. Embassies
If you know an address where your child might be located, and your child is an American Citizen, our office can request that the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that country conduct a welfare and whereabouts visit to the child.
Click here to know about what more you could do.
Enrollment allows you to record information about your upcoming trip abroad that the Department of State can use to assist you in case of an emergency. 