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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Emma Grimshaw

Two Bristol musicians are stranded in India

For almost a month James Tomlinson and Lucy Reetooraz have been stranded in a hotel in northern India.

The couple, who have been travelling since January,have been attempting to board a flight home since mid-March.

Lucy said it has been frightening not knowing when they might be able to return to Bristol and to witness the change in attitude towards tourists.

She said the majority of the people have been caring and really helpful. But when news first broke about Covid-19 lots of Indians became frightened of foreigners and started shouting abuse at them in the streets.

After the country went into lockdown they were forced to stay in their hotel in Pushkar and were stamped by health officials who said they were not allowed outside, even for food.

Now their two weeks quarantine is over they are still only permitted out for two short designated times at the beginning and end of the day to buy essential meals.

They have been left frustrated with the government for not doing more for British people abroad.

"It feels like almost every European was offered repatriation flights by their embassies at the beginning, " said Lucy, who lives in St Annes. "Bse

Two Bristol musicians trapped in India claim the British Embassy is not helping them, as other foreign nationals are flown home.

James Tomlinson and Lucy Reetooraz arrived in India on 3 January but booked flights home early due to the coronavirus outbreak.

These were cancelled earlier this month, but they say the German Embassy has sent flights for their citizens.

A Foreign Office spokesman said they were supporting British travellers.

The couple said not being able to get home was a "terrifying feeling".

Mr Tomlinson, 31, said: "Several phone calls to the embassy and the foreign office have all resulted in being told to stay put and obey lockdown rules.

"Unbelievably, as recently as 27 March, the embassy didn't know of any flights leaving India, even though we know the German embassy has sent multiple flights for their citizens and other European citizens.

"We were told to stay where we are as our embassy and Foreign Office had no information on this or any other such transport."

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