INDO-AMERICAN HOTELIERS HELP INDIAN STUDENTS

Washington, March

26: Indian-American hoteliers have come forward to rescue the stranded Indian students in the US following implementation of lockdown measures in the country in response to the rapidlyspreading Covid-19 pandemic, offering free accommodation and meals.

With the students scrambling for a roof over their heads after being asked to vacate their hostels and India banning international flights from March 22 due to the

Covid-19, over 6,000 rooms in nearly 700 hotels were offered to them by Wednesday following a call from the Indian Embassy. The Indian Embassy have been running a round-the-clock helpline since last week for the students in the US, who number over 2,50,000.

Most of these hotels offered are in and around universities and colleges, but the hotel owners from across the country have come up in large numbers to the call given by community leaders, who have roped in Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) for the purpose. India’s Ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu said in a tweet, “It is heartening to see that Indian; Indian-American and other hotel owners are coming forward to help people with accommodation in these testing times. Together we can overcome the fight against Covid19!”

“The Indian community has come together to help students and many hotel owners have offered their rooms free of cost to them. Many are also offering free meals to the students,” Chicago-based community leader Nirav Patel said.

Indian-American hotelier couple K.K. Mehta and Chandra Mehta have offered over 100 rooms to students at their two prime properties near the Times Square and Barclays Center in New York City.