a Cry for help came to the editorial office of “MK” from the state in the Eastern India: “Wherever we turned, the hope remained only on your newspaper. We have about 170 Russian tourists from-for quarantine trapped in different localities of West Bengal. Export flights from our region are not expected, while the airports of Delhi and Goa, where are you flying from side to Russia, we can’t reach it. Soon people will begin to starve because the money is running out…”
the Correspondent of “MK” contacted by compatriots and learned about a situation in which they found themselves.
Sergey Colonels from Barnaul explains that West Bengal is the Eastern state of India bordering with Bangladesh to the East, Bhutan in the North and Nepal in the North-West. The majority of our citizens are in the state capital Kolkata or Krishna in the Holy city Mayapur. The rest scattered in small settlements: the state of West Bengal abounds in places of pilgrimage.
– we have Among the pilgrims, but the majority are ordinary tourists, – says Sergey. – On lists drawn up until 3 weeks ago, about 70 people are stuck in Mayapur and the approximately 100 scattered across the state. That’s not counting the Calcutta and district. We have created a group in instant messengers, where every day we find new comrades in misfortune. Among them is 70 – year-old and children from 3 years. Financial aid received not by all. And who’s got that already let her debts for the tickets and for rent.
– What kind of debt for the ticket?
– Almost all gone tickets to Russia at the end of March, when canceled flights. Those who are from Siberia, and there are many, the tickets were on air Astana, which is money no one returned. When the Kazakh airline canceled the flight, it was still possible to fly of the Russian. Many have purchased tickets but are unable to get to the Delhi airport from where it flies. Then came the offer from “Ural airlines” people also bought tickets and did not get back. And this despite the fact that the ticket aboard the first flight of export from Delhi was worth from 80 to 260 thousand rubles per person! For comparison, regular price of this flight is 13-15 thousand rubles! In the end people have spent a lot of money, got into debt, and as a result for almost 2 months sitting on the ground. Personally, I had to fly home on March 22.
Where do you live?
– In rented apartments and are dependent on their owners. From first home I was asked, when did the quarantine. Then we chipped through a friend of a neighbor found the room at the other Indians who are not so much afraid of “contagious” white. This Monday Mayapur, though declared a “green zone”: was allowed to move freely and the attitude of the local was adequate. And before that in and out was impossible.
– How did you eat?
– In our room there is no possibility to cook. And products with the introduction of karantion rose at least 3 times. Us feeds the Russian community.
There is such?!
– Yes, and they feed compatriots three times a day for a very small fee. Don’t know what we would have done without them!
In Russia often hear that, say, in India people stuck to the usual…
I’m in India for the first time in my life, and my neighbor too! And I’m afraid that the desire to come here again we will not have a very long time! But until we have no hope to get out of here. Although will soon cease to suffice even for food from the Russian community.
– So fly also export boards!
– we Have in Mayapur there are no airport, the nearest to the state capital, Kolkata, is 150 km from us. But export flights fly only from Delhi (1500 km away) and from Goa (3000 km). There us no one will miss, as the path is through the “red zone”. Many States in India still closed on quarantine, the passage through them is prohibited.
– it is said that the Indians plan to resume domestic flights…
– another Question is, when exactly they will open and how much a ticket will cost? They say that the flight to Delhi will cost about 40 thousand rubles. For people who “overtime” live in India in the second month, paying for rent and food, it can be impossibly money. The nearest export Board from Delhi is scheduled for may 23. But even if we can get to the airport, not the fact that we will take. In Delhi, even 300, this flight, at their request, and, of course, the first thing will remove them. And while there are no domestic flights to get to Delhi is possible only in a special bus with a special permit. To arrange this transfer service can only be the Embassy.
You spoke there?
– Where we were converted, wrote, called. In the Russian Consulate in Calcutta, to the Russian governors, presidential envoys to the districts. In response, or ignored, or promises. Considering that the elderly and three-year-olds, for whom road to Delhi or Goa to be too heavy, please do not transfer, and export the flight from Kolkata airport, it would have saved us all! There from different parts of West Bengal at least to really get. We are ready for flights to any region in Russia! We even agree on the observation in any place of arrival, despite the fact that we are in the “green zone” where there is no virus.
twice named the export from Calcutta “Ural airlines” and both times for some reason was canceled. And now does not even promise. Sit like a leper, look on the Internet how others fly.
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Meanwhile, in the case of transfers from remote Indian areas in airports where are you flying from export routes to Russia, had their own scams.
– We need to reach the Dabolim airport in Goa, which is about 250 km away from us – says stuck with his family in Gokarna ro��Senin Oleg Konovalov. – We have created a group in the messenger, where are the list of those who desired such a transfer, discuss the details and agree. Similar groups exist in each region. The Shuttle service took me, and set me up. As soon as it in the General chat were talking about the fundraiser, someone has to write the group members in a personal in my name and to urgently collect money from them to travel to Dabolim! Fortunately, I just found out about it, and transfer the money to the scammers managed only one family.
