Highlights
- Hundreds of Indians stranded in Australia 'desperate' to return home
- Indian citizens demand travel restrictions be lifted temporarily
- Indian High Commission clarifies 'no repatriation flights' to India are being planned
Looking at the deserted streets from the window of her hotel room in Sydney, Preethi Ramashetty is questioning herself, when she would be able to return to the familiar forewalls of her home in Bengaluru in southern India.
Stuck inside for days with her husband and their 13-year old daughter, the 40-year-old is urging the Indian government to arrange for their evacuation, as they are fast running out of survival options.
“We have been staying in this hotel for days and have been paying $130 which is a lot when you convert it into Indian rupees.
“We just want the government to arrange a flight for us to return to India,” pleads Ms Ramashetty.
She is not the only one. There are at least 200 others, many tourists and international students grappling with closed borders and sending out multiple inquiries to the Consulates and the Indian High Commission in Australia.
Anushka Singh, an international student also stranded in Sydney who is moderating the Facebook group of Indians stuck in Australia, said rumours are flying thick and fast, with many claiming that repatriation flights to India have been arranged.
“There is a lot of uncertainty and confusion due to which multiple rumours are spreading that the Indian government has arranged for us to be airlifted.
“There is a message that is being currently circulated of a repatriation flight scheduled to fly out from Sydney on April 6th. But that is certainly not true,” said Ms Singh who has taken upon herself to dispel the rumours.
Reiterating the demands of all those seeking answers from the Indian government, Ms Singh added that if the government cannot arrange for a special relief flight, they should at least temporarily lift the travel restrictions between Indian and Australia, so that all those displaced can return home.
“It’s okay if they can’t arrange for a repatriation flight, at least lift the travel restrictions for a few days. We will somehow arrange money to book for our own flights to India,” she added.
Reacting to the influx of inquiries from concerned citizens, the Indian High Commission in Canberra tweeted earlier today, that there are no repatriation flights being planned now.
Also stuck is Shantanu Kajale, who said the government’s "terse" reply has further trampled his hopes.
“I came to Sydney for a short trip along with my elderly parents. My father is diabetic and has just gone through a minor surgery and needs medical attention.
“I fear that we would soon run out of prescribed medicines for him if this carried on for a prolonged period,” said the 29-year-old tourist.
All scheduled international commercial passenger flight services to India stand suspended till April 14.
But despite the air lockdown, India has managed to evacuate more than 1,000 citizens, including foreign nationals from China, Iran and Italy and from a quarantined cruise ship in Japan.
In addition, the country’s national carrier Air India also operated a charter flight to Tel Aviv, Israel on March 26 to transport 300 Israelis stuck in India.
SBS Punjabi has contacted the Indian High Commission for comment.
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