STRANDED NRIS, STUDENTS APPEAL FOR SPECIAL FLIGHTS

JALANDHAR/CHANDIGARH: In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Canadian government has decided to keep its borders sealed till at least the end of July and has extended its ban on travellers. As such students and NRIs, who were hoping to return to India, will remain stranded in Canada for longer.

Conversely, all those who had come to India in January and February taking leave from work or their educational institutions are also stuck in India.

Joga Singh of Tut Kalan village, Jalandhar, says, “My wife and I were scheduled to fly to Canada on July 27 to attend the marriage of our only son, Mandeep Singh, on August 14. Earlier, we were unable to get a ticket because of the lockdown and now there are no options left. We will have to postpone the marriage.”

An NRI, Amanpreet Kaur, said she had returned to her village in the Doaba region in February to attend a family function and was scheduled to return on March 29 but she was still stuck in Punjab. “I desperately want to return home to my children and grandchildren. I appeal both governments to ensure safe travel soon,” she said.

Joban Sandhu, a Mohali resident, who was planning to shift to Canada in March, said, “We have already cancelled our plan to go to Canada. We will now travel in September or October if the situation allows us.”

Recently, a 89-year-old Canadian citizen had committed suicide in Jalandhar because he was not able to get a ticket to travel home.

Immigration experts say over one lakh students from Punjab and Chandigarh opt for popular education destinations such as the US, UK, Canada and Australia each year.