On Tuesday 31st March, the UK’s Foreign Office in collaboration with the Indian government executed its operation of airlifting hundreds of British nationals stranded in India through two chartered flights from the states of Kolkata and Goa.
As Asian Voice went to press, official governement sources confirmed that Air India flights were bound to Frankfurt, Germany carrying 317 citizens stranded in Goa and 115 in Kolkata. Off the 115 passengers repatriated from Kolkata, 59 of them were German nationals and 16 Britons with Miss England Bhasha Mukherjee being one of them. This has indicated of a pan-European effort undertaken by the UK government where presently there are no direct chartered flights operating from India to the UK. Speaking to Asian Voice, Nick Low, the British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata said,
“Precedence was given to elderly citizens. All the passengers were checked before they boarded the flights and after having taken their temperatures we know that none of them were symptomatic of Covid-19. There are greater chances of them contracting the infection in Germany, which currently has more number of Coronavirus cases, than doing so here in Eastern India at this time. Once they reach Frankfurt, some passengers intent on reaching the UK would have to make their own arrangements for their onward journey.
“Based on my interaction with my German colleagues, I am told that there are Deutsch bound train services across Germany and in Europe. There are limited air services operating to London as well. I know that at least one of the passengers had an onward connecting flight to London. The UK has not closed its airspace.”
The repatriation process follows after the UK government announced a £75m airlift operation to rescue those who were stranded across the world because of the coronavirus pandemic. India had locked down its international borders on 23rd March till 14th April. However, this had resulted into chaos, where some Britons stuck there feared to die of hunger, and some even spoke about running short of NHS prescribed medicines such that they had to rely on local alternatives for other health issues such as diabetes. Hence, many accused the UK government of purposefully abandoning them. Earlier, the German government had brought 1000 stranded tourists home from Delhi, India, including 40 British citizens.
British nationals stranded in India
Official government sources estimate that there are about 25,000-30,000 British nationals stranded in India with about 300 people in the Kutch district of Gujarat alone and quite a significant number of citizens in Punjab and Jaipur. Owing to the coronavirus outbreak, and sealed international borders in India, Britons who are temporarily separated from their children and families in the UK are extremely concerned of their smooth passage back to the UK. The foreign office’s operation is a welcome move but many are concerned that the process is too slow and flights too less.
A London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow had earlier appealed to the Foreign Secretary for the repatriation of British Indians stranded in India. In his letter to Dominic Raab, Navin Shah wrote,
“My wife Rajeshiri (known as Cllr Rekha Shah) and I arrived here to Mumbai on 8th March to attend my older bother's funeral service and were due to be back. However, we've got caught up with current situation and therefore stranded in Mumbai away from our home and immediate family.
“We like many were booked to fly back to London by Air India on 1st April (after their decision to stop flights to Europe till 31st March). But the Indian Government have now closed international commercial passenger services till April 14th. What do we do? What is the future for the stranded?”
Local councillors, assembly members and MPs write to Raab
Shah and his wife have reported about suffering from other medical conditions (not Covid-19) wherein they are fast running out of their prescribed NHS medicines and therefore, have to rely on local alternatives. In the meantime, an online petition “Repatriate UK citizens stuck in India” has received 43,000+ signatures. Local London Assembly Member, Unmesh Desai AM, also wrote to the Mr Raab, to call for a “robust and renewed” strategy to repatriate stranded British nationals amidst the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Desai AM acknowledged that this is an “incredibly complex situation”, but highlighted that there are “measures that the Government could take right now to reach out to fellow citizens that have found themselves trapped through no fault of their own”. In his letter, Mr Desai also underlined the plight of British citizens trapped in countries across the world, due to cancelled flights and closed borders.
Following the stir on social media, Labour MPs such as Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Preet Gill had also written letters to the foreign secretary demanding prompt action for the safe passage of their constituents stranded in India.
But, repatriation of Britons from India has several factors to be considered; beginning with the number of chartered flights that the UK is likely to send to India, and identifying the key centres/states from where these flights can operate. Sources believe that if airspace permission is secured then a bulk of the flights will operate from Goa, Chennai and at a later stage from Punjab, and Ahmedabad depending on the passenger traffic from each state.
Inter-city travel remains difficult
Concerns also remain around the nationwide lockdown imposed within India which entails transport in the interiors of the country also stands suspended including the temporary suspension of the Indian railways and domestic flights. Speaking of his experience, Mr. Low said,
“Owing to the nationwide lockdow, it was not easy to get some of these citizens to Kolkata. One of these passengers had travelled by car from the state of Odisha and another from the city of Siliguri. But we have to thank the local MEA offices, governments of West Bengal and Odisha for facilitating their smooth arrival to the Kolkata airport.”
This means that in other cases as well, the High Commissions would be tasked with making necessary arrangements for those individuals currently stranded in rural districts to be transported to key airport hubs most likely through special buses. Under these circumstances the governments also have to ensure social distancing is followed through and community transmission does not occur.
Jethalal Savani is a British national stranded in the Kera village of the Kutch district in Gujarat. He said, “Kutch is a remote district, so commuting to Delhi or Mumbai will not be an easy task even when the lockdown is eased. So we are requesting the British High Commission and other government authorities concerned to arrange for a flight from Ahmedabad to London for the evacuation.”
Speaking to Asian Voice, Suchira Ray said, her brother Shovon is stranded in Kolkata, India. Her parents who are British nationals but living in India, are currently staying with her in London, as they got stranded during their visit to the UK. Shovon who was in India training for the ironman challenge across South East Asia, has now no way to come back to the UK. “Mr Raab asked the British nationals to return home. But India’s border is closed. How will my brother return home? There is absolute no help!”
If any British national in India requires immediate consular assistance, they should contact the FCO on New Delhi: +91 (11) 2419 2100; Goa: +91 832 6636800; Chennai: + 91 (44) 42192151; Mumbai:+91 (22) 6650 2222. British nationals who wish to return urgently to the UK, should email to [email protected] and must include the following details:
• Your full name
• The names of any family members with you
• Your date of birth
• Dates of birth for all named family members
• Your passport number(s)
• Visa status and contact details
• Your exact location in India
• Your date of arrival in India and
• Details of the return flight that you had booked back to the UK, if applicable.
