Shillong, Aug 24 (IANS): Three Meghalaya ministers Friday left for Karnataka and Maharashtra to review the situation in the states after thousands of people from the northeast left following threats that they would be attacked.

Thousands of students from Meghalaya and other northeastern states have left Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Maharashtra after mobile text messages warned them of attacks as a backlash for the Assam ethnic violence.

Meghalaya's Information and Technology Minister Alexander Hek, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal have left for Karnataka and Maharashtra.

"We are going to meet the state machineries to review the overall situation," Hek told IANS.

He said they would also interact with students and other people from Meghalaya living in the two states.

Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said the state's director general of police and chief secretary were in constant touch with their counterparts in the two states.

Meghalaya Police have also set up a helpline number 91-8575001111.