More than 17,500 Canadian citizens, mostly Indo-Canadians from the Punjab region,  have registered with the Foreign Affairs Department as being stranded in India, and as of Tuesday, the federal government had no repatriation flights scheduled to get them out. And with Indian Prime Minister Narendra  Modi putting the country on a 21 day lockdown, their return becomes more uncertain, all movement in India suspended till mid April. 

By DESIBUZZCanada Staff

VANCOUVER -- More than 17,500 Canadian citizens, mostly Indo-Canadians from the Punjab region,  have registered with the Foreign Affairs Department as being stranded in India, and as of Tuesday, the federal government had no repatriation flights scheduled to get them out. 

And with Indian Prime Minister Narendra  Modi putting the country on a 21 day complete lockdown, their return becomes more uncertain, all movement in India suspended till mid April. 

"There will be a total ban on venturing outside of your homes. Therefore, I request you to remain wherever you are in this country," Modi said in a televised address to the nation outlining the government’s latest moves in the fight against COVID-19.

The news came at a stressful time for many Indo-Canadian families here who await the return of their loved ones, including Surrey-Newton MP Sukh Dhaliwal, who’s 80-year-old mother remains in India like many others who had gone to Punjab and India during annual winter-spring visits. They had no idea that it would turn into a nightmare of being stuck there during these turbulent and uncertain times of a pandemic gripping the world.

About 17,600 Canadians in India have registered with the voluntary Registration of Canadians Abroad service, but registration is voluntary so there are likely more than that. 

Working hand in hand with airlines, the Canadian government has plans to dispatch planes to various corners of the world on repatriation missions, but given the sheer number of Canadian citizens and permanent residents on the sub-continent right now it’s not an easy task to get them all home.

The federal government admits it’s unlikely every Canadian abroad will be able to come home soon. 

"We are doing everything in our power to bring the largest number of Canadians home as quickly as possible," said Krystyna Dodds, a Global Affairs Canada spokesperson. "Unfortunately, it will not be possible to ensure the return of all Canadians who wish to come home.”

DESIBUZZCanada Founder and LINK Newspaper Editor R. Paul Dhillon’s close relatives are in Indi a and he said it is worrying for the family to know that they can’t get on a plane and come back even though they are okay at their ancestral home iin their village.

“My sister and brother-in-law were scheduled to return on March 24 and had their flights booked and then India brought the 21-day lockdown and it killed all flights so right now it is very uncertain when they can come,” Dhillon said. 

“We have them on stand-by right now but 21 days is a long time and we don’t know if the curfew will end sooner as right now there doesn’t seem to be anything anyone can do, although I hear that Canadian government officials and some MPs who’s own relatives are in Punjab are trying to talk to India to see if something could be arranged for all the Canadians’ return home.”

India has closed its airspace and imposed a 21-day lockdown, preventing people from leaving their homes. The new measures come after a spike in cases in recent days. Those who are stuck say the restrictions make it impossible for them to get to the airports in New Delhi and Mumbai. 

The federal government said Foreign Affairs Minister François-Philippe Champagne has been in touch with the Indian government and is working to bring people home, but the details of what is being done aren't known.

Surrey-Newton Liberal MP Dhaliwal said he, too, is putting pressure on Champagne, but he doesn't believe it will be easy to bring Canadians home any time soon.

"Because India has shut down the airfield, we are trying to get access to the airfield, and also the prime minister has talked to the CEO of both airlines, Air Canada as well as WestJet."

Dhaliwal said those who are stuck may need to be patient and wait it out.