Indian dad Inderjit Singh Sandhu stuck in Tasmania after borders closed at home

A dream trip to Tasmania has turned into a nightmare for an Indian dad visiting his son after his country’s borders were closed, leaving him stranded.

THE coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe has left a sour taste for Indian dad Inderjit Singh Sandhu, who has been holidaying in Tasmania, turning his dream trip into a nightmare.

Inderjit, 66, is on the verge of a nervous breakdown as he finds himself stuck between two countries in the pandemic lockdown – and he is fast running out of money.

He came to Hobart on March 5 to visit his teenage son Dalipinder, who is studying at the University of Tasmania.

Inderjit was supposed to fly home last week, but the Indian government closed its borders, leaving him stranded in Tasmania.

“I am at a loss to figure an alternative to get back to India because there has been a complete blanket ban of flights till 15th of next month,” Inderjit said.

“I’m under tremendous stress and don’t know what to do.

“I feel I’m under imminent threat of having a nervous breakdown.”

Inderjit Singh Sandhu arrived in Tasmania on March 5 to visit his son Dalipinder. He is now stuck here after the Indian Government closed that country’s borders. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Even if he manages to get back to India, Dalipinder believes his dad will be quarantined where he lands before he can get home.

“There is a domestic lockdown in the country and he won’t be getting home to Chandigarh. He will be put in a quarantine centre, most probably,” Dalipinder said.

“He fears those facilities might not be well maintained. He’s also running out of funds to stay here and is hoping for an evacuation soon.

“The Indian Government might also cut short his monthly pension and even freeze his bank account as rumours of unprecedented economic emergency make rounds.

“All of that talk adds on to his worries.”