‘My parents need oxygen’: Australians cut off from family in COVID-ravaged India

When Sachin Sharma’s entire family in India was diagnosed with COVID-19 about a week ago, he was desperate to jump on a plane and be there for them.

His mother, 62, and father, 71, are in critical need of hospital care. His sister, 35, and niece, 5, also have the virus and are unable to leave their home.

Shachin Sharma is unable to travel to India to care for his critically ill family.Credit: Rhett Wyman

Mr Sharma, 40 from Hornsby, applied to the federal government for permission to go to India, but was knocked back.

The tighter travel rules announced on Tuesday have left him with little hope for any future requests.

“[My parents] need oxygen,” Mr Sharma said.

“There is no one there to look after them, all the nearby hospitals are full and there’s no one to try to get them somewhere else.

“We are devastated, we are only sleeping four hours a night.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday announced direct flights from India to Australia would be banned until at least May 15 because of the country’s worsening COVID-19 outbreak. At the same time, the restrictions on people leaving Australia for India have also been strengthened.

India is grappling with a new wave of COVID-19 cases, with overrun hospitals turning away patients due to a shortage of beds and oxygen supplies.

Mr Sharma’s parents, pictured on a trip to Australia, are stuck at home in India with COVID-19, unable to access hospital care.

The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates India will hit a peak of 13,300 deaths a day in mid-May, when Australia is due to re-evaluate the flight ban.

There are about 9000 Australians in India trying to get home.

Migration agent and Little India Harris Park Business Association president Sanjay Deshwal said he had been fielding calls from clients in tears since the flight ban was announced.

He said the community understood the government’s need to protect Australians from COVID-19, but he did not think there should be a blanket ban on one country.

“People should be allowed to meet family members in compassionate circumstances,” he said.

“It’s causing a lot of distress. It’s a very sad situation.

“We want Australia to be safe, but there should be a human touch to it.”

Mr Sharma said the announcement of a blanket ban on flights from India, and more restrictions on people wanting to travel there, had dealt a devastating blow to any remaining hope his family had that help was on the way.

“We are trying to arrange to get medical supplies sent to them, but it’s very difficult to even get a single tablet,” he said.

“They are stuck in an apartment and not allowed to go out.”

He is prepared to be stuck in India for many months if required and has the funds to pay for quarantine on his return.

Federation of Indian Associations of NSW president Yadu Singh said Australia was morally obliged to do everything it could for Australians stuck in India.

Dr Singh, who is also a cardiologist, suggested building separate quarantine facilities for people coming from high-risk countries.

“If you can’t bring them here we at least should give them the tools to help protect themselves over there,” he said, suggesting the government send vaccines to India for Australian residents.

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