Hope running out for Brits stranded in India
An elderly couple with serious health conditions have been left stranded in India with "little hope" of getting home amid the world's most stringent coronavirus lockdown.
Jarnail Singh, 65 and his wife Kirpal Kaur, 67, from Bilston, Wolverhampton, were due to fly back from the Punjab city of Jalandhar on March 24, but their flight was cancelled and no replacement has been scheduled.
Mrs Kaur suffers with an irregular heart rate and diabetes and is fast running out of vital medication, while Mr Singh has recently had a stent fitted.
They are among hundreds of people from the Black Country stranded in India, where the entire 1.3 billion population is banned from leaving their homes until mid-April under strict police enforced lockdown measures imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Their daughter, Harpreet Kaur, 35 says the family are deeply concerned about her parents wellbeing.
"They are living under a strict curfew and are unable to leave the house, even for food or to get gas cylinders for cooking," she said.
"They both have serious medical conditions but can't get access to medical supplies.
"It is a threatening environment for them as the police are enforcing the lockdown with the threat of violence, and citizens have become very hostile towards foreigners.
"We just want to get them home as soon as possible where they will be safe, but at the moment there is little hope of that happening."
Mr Singh arrived in India in December 2019, with his wife joining him at the start of March for a trip that was part holiday, part charity work.
Harpreet Kaur said her parents return flight was initially rescheduled for April 2, but all international flights to and from India have now been cancelled and the travel agency they booked up with are not responding to calls.
She also said they had received no assistance from the British Consulate or the Home Office.
"My parents are being told to get the next flight home which makes no sense when there are no flights available," she said. "They can't even come out of the house.
"My dad feels very let down by his own Government, as nothing has been put into place to get this country's citizens back home to safety where they belong.
"I sincerely hope with all my heart that Mr Johnson acts promptly. This is not only about my parents but all those others facing the same dilemma.
"Our Government has the power to step in and save so many vulnerable British lives. We are pleading with them to put the people first."
Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden has called on the Government to charter flights to repatriate stranded Brits.
"This is a vivid illustration of the circumstances a number of people are in," he said.
"They are stuck in a stricter lockdown than the UK, running out of medicine with no way to get home.
"My constituency office has been approached with dozens of cases like this in recent days. It is pointless asking people in this situation to book alternative flights when there are no commercial flights available.
"That’s why I wrote to the Foreign Secretary about the situation earlier this week. The Government must organise charter flights to get these people home to the UK."
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has said the Government is working with other nations and airlines to "overcome barriers" and bring people home as soon as possible.
