A Journey in Pandemic

World is under great stress. Post corona epidemic China is completely isolated and is suspected to have concealed the data for a long time and is alleged to have been the cause of deaths of millions of people around the world. Economies of most of the countries, including USA, have nose-dived. USA has started withdrawing as the most powerful world leader. China is too eager to fill the vacuum and has started bullying its neighbors to accept its leadership.

India is no exception. Increasing impact of endemic, consequent slow down of economy, aggressive maneuvers of China, needling by small neighbors instigated by China and a large corona afflicted corona patients to look after in the face of sparse medical infrastructure are too much to be chewed by the governments at the center and states. Fortunately, there is unity in dealing with these problems and we have a strong leadership to address these problems.

There are several issues which crop up under such a scenario. For example, all international flights have come to a standstill. People who have left their countries and gone abroad for further studies, to meet relatives, for pleasure trips are all stranded. Special rescue flights are being organised by countries to bring home their citizens stranded abroad. First there is a scramble for these rescue flights and it is difficult to get listed. In case one gets the flight, there is apprehension of infection during the journey. One cannot meet the family on arrival – 14 days quarantine, 7 days institutional and 7 days home quarantine.

There are many people whose loved ones are still not able to reach them. They are dam scared about getting them listed and then of coming safe home without infection.

I want to narrate the actual experience of my grand daughter who had gone to London for further studies and was stranded because of the lock downs all around for the benefit of parents and close relatives all those who are still stranded abroad and crave to return home and be with their families. She returned thanks to Vande Mataram Rescue Flight of Air India. In her own words :

LHR-AHM

A Journey in Pandemic

I was going home bearing extreme excitement to meet my family back home in India, but truth be told it was overpowered by the fear of being infected whilst the journey. It started with filling up a form generated by High Commission a week before the flight was scheduled, i.e. 07^th June 2020. On filling up the form, there is no email conformation that you receive which generally leads to duplication of application as a cause of delusional mind who fears for form not being filled. Two days before the flight, I receive an email from High Commission stating I have been shortlisted. In the following two days my ticket is booked on the call with the most helpful and understanding staff of Air India. I have a record of goofing up during the most crucial times, but the team still assisted with utmost patience. The flight was London-Mumbai-Ahmedabad.  I was been constantly told that it is now that the real journey starts. On 7^th July 2020 I started my journey in Pandemic.

I reached Heathrow airport 4 hours prior to the flight as been instructed on the call by the staff and even in my E ticket. Much to my surprise or not, I wasn’t as early as I thought I would be. I was welcomed by around 70 odd individuals, queueing patiently. The trollies which held their last-minute packed bags by default helped in maintaining social distancing. I joined the line and joined the frantic + hopeful mask bearing faces. An announcement made 10 minutes after lit me up. “All the Business class passengers are supposed to directly go for check in” in their what I called “Privileged check-in counters”. I almost sprinted to the counter and finished all the formalities that followed like security etc, immediately. Before boarding the flight, you had to get your medical test done. On being passed the test, you will receive a stamp which will give you joy equivalent to a candy in a child’s hand. The economy passengers were given something which resembled a raincoat acting as a shield to avoid the physical contact with co-passengers. On entering the aircraft we were welcomed by the almost patented Air India “Namaste”. The only difference being that rather than the usual saree draped stewardess, there was a protective suit adorned individual. I entered the flight and looked right towards the economy class by the force of habit. The passengers in their protective suit sat next to each other, with no social distancing observed. I was asked to take a left to the business class, I have never felt more relived in taking a left turn in my life (including Metaphoric turns). There were two bags which were kept on my seat. One bag had refreshments and the other one had Safety gears like mask, shields etc. The flight took off on time. The journey was pretty smooth and sound. I had my mask on all the time and frequently sanitized my hands.

The flight first landed in Mumbai. The passengers who were traveling to Ahmedabad were asked to remain seated for the immigration formalities will be fulfilled in Ahmedabad itself. The cabin crew was changed and the ground staff cleaned and sanitised everything before the flight took off to Ahmedabad. In Ahmedabad, our handbags and cabin luggage were sprayed with sanitizers. The first thing to be done was to undergo a medical test, they check your temperature and submission of previously filled form stating your personal details in case of any health emergencies. On reaching the conveyor belt for luggage, I was highly impressed with the already arranged luggage trollies at a considerable distance to avoid the usual chaos that is observed. After claiming the luggage, we had to let the government individuals know where we would like to quarantine. The protocol by the government is that the travellers need to observe 7-day hotel quarantine and the following 7 days home quarantine. Moreover, the passengers are not supposed to quarantine in their home towns. Which is understandable looking at the previous experiences where people flee away exploiting their “strong connections”. Being aware of this protocol before I undertook the journey, my father had surveyed it well as to which hotels in our approved vicinity are good enough and accordingly it was booked for me on chargeable basis for 7 days. Bear in mind that the government gives quarantine facilities on a non-chargeable basis as well. A big bunch of people were segregated on the basis of their preferences and were taken to their destination in a Volvo AC bus.

We reached the hotel Neejanand and again all our bags were sanitized before we initiated the check-in procedures. Once checked in- we were narrated the house rules. The manager said and I quote, “Feel comfortable, feel home” and it was indeed like that. The food (Breakfast, lunch, High-tea and dinner) used to be delivered outside our rooms. This is how the day looked like:

 8:30 -First knock- Breakfast along with an Immunity Drink. (Always with a fruit)

11:00- Second Knock- Medical team and government officials used to come for medical test. Basically, they would check the temperature and ask if we had any symptoms.

12:00: The cleaning lady will ask if the room needed any cleaning

1:00 Lunch with wither Buttermilk or seasonal Mango pulp

4:30 Tea/coffee with Biscuits

8:30 Dinner

The quality of food was really good and varied. The mundane routine would be compensated with the variety of food they served every day. Moreover, we were given these homeopathy medicine which were to boost the immune system to be taken thrice a day.

I have few experiences during the stay which I would like to mention. On first day I figured that since the network wasn’t the best and hence internet connectivity was only WhatsApp friendly. There were few issues with the resort wifi which I asked them to fix. I told them that since I am a student I need to study and work and hence I will need internet. Next day I got the whole router being set up in my room for my personal use. The whole staff is at your service and helps you out with utmost care. There is nothing to worry.

Now I am at Home Sweet Home.

to