Chaos as school trip ends at airport in india

PUPILS and staff were left ‘in a state of tired shock’ after travelling to India for charity – only to be turned back at the airport.

The group of 16 youngsters and three staff from Poynton High School flew to Chennai last week as part of the school’s partnership with the India Direct charity.

They had spent two-anda-half years fundraising for the trip, and were planning to visit a children’s home funded by the charity and paint a mural, as well as experience the culture of India.

However, on reaching Chennai Airport they were refused entry by immigration officials, who said they couldn’t use the tourist visas they had arranged because they were going to be ‘undertaking work with a non-governmental organisation’.

Poynton High headteacher David Waugh said they were held by security guards in immigration for 13 hours.

He said: “After two-anda-half hours they just stopped talking to them, so I had to arrange for them to fly back from here.”

He says the school has previously run three successful trips to Chennai, during which there was no problem with tourist visas.