Hari Gopal Garg and his beloved wife, Komal Garg, have been stuck in India since Canada banned flights from India, a country that has been overwhelmed by COVID-19 pandemic’s second wave.
The couple travelled to India to complete the adoption of a 14-month-old girl, and had completed the paperwork to go back to Canada days before flights were banned.
While talking to CTV during a recent interview, Hari said: “We were just two days away from our flight, and it was disappointing that the Canadian government didn’t give us any time, as other countries did.”
He revealed that part of the problem with trying to go back to Canada is getting only automated email responses from government officials.
He said: “I’m getting only automated emails from them saying that ‘you need to take a different route to a third country.”
Many adjoining countries have banned flights from India, so the Gargs have not been able to find a way to an adjoining country to commence their journey home.
For the couple, traveling to India to adopt their baby was important. They started the process in 2017, and were only two days from starting a new life when the travel ban took effect.
Hari said: “Finally, last year we got confirmation in August that there is a baby available.
“We immediately said yes, and it took many months to process the work. Finally I came in March to take custody of the baby and to bring her home, and our flight was on April 25.”
“I know they banned the flights to save the Canadians, but we are also Canadians and who will protect us in this situation?”
“We want to have the baby safe, which is very difficult, and the condition in India is not good.”
