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Indian expats tell of struggle to return to Australia, Hong Kong and Kuwait amid Covid-19
- Indians are one of the world’s biggest expat communities, with more than 17.5 million of them living abroad and visiting India for leisure or work
- More than 4,500 people of Indian origin want to return to Australia while thousands more are waiting to head to Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore
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Australian IT analyst Mehul Patel’s daughter turned one this month, but he could not celebrate this special milestone with her.
His wife and their baby travelled from Melbourne to the western Indian city of Rajkot in October last year for a six-month stay with her family. But they have been stuck there since March, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared a Covid-19 lockdown with barely four hours notice, and banned all international commercial flights to and from India.
“I have lost the crucial part of my daughter’s growing up phase, I don’t even know if she would recognise me,” Patel said.
Indians are considered to be one of the world’s biggest expat communities, with over 17.5 million living in several countries as citizens, permanent residents, or on work, study or dependent visas. But when the Indian government closed its borders in March, those who were in India were stuck, separated from their families and lives in their country of residence.
India has recorded over 3 million coronavirus cases, the third highest in the world after the US and Brazil, making it even more difficult to travel. More than 4,500 people of Indian origin are waiting to get back to Australia while thousands more are trying to return to Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Kuwait and other places.
Coronavirus infections surge in rural India as nation adds 1 million new cases in less than a month
Coronavirus infections surge in rural India as nation adds 1 million new cases in less than a month
In May, the Indian government started its Vande Bharat Mission (VBM) to repatriate people, using national carrier Air India, which is US$7 billion in debt.
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