A compassionate business owner and a prominent community leader had opened his hearts for the stranded Indian nationals in Auckland by providing them with free accommodation and food for the last few weeks.
Prithipal Basra had arranged free housing for 20-25 stranded Indian nationals at his Papatoetoe lodge and provided all necessary facilities to them during this unprecedented time.
The Covid-19 global travel restriction and domestic lockdown had left thousands of Indian nationals in the country on tourist and visitor visas stranded with no means to support themselves for such an extended period of time.
The Indian High Commission and Consulate of India in Auckland had been running a support program since the beginning of lockdown whereby supporting hundreds of struggling Indian nationals with free food bags and other miscellaneous support.
With extending lockdown in both countries and the Indian nationals on limited visa and limited resources were left dry with no means to support themselves, either travel, food or rising bills of the hotel they were initially living in.
The Consulate Office in Auckland reached out to different organisations and individuals who could come forward and help these travellers some relief with accommodation. Liaising with Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust, Mr Basra readily agreed to help the stranded Indian travellers at his lodge in South Auckland.
“I was approached if I could help these 20-25 Indian nationals who were out of money and I asked my lodge management team to arrange proper accommodation for these individuals and families at my Three Palms Lodge on Kolmar Road in Papatoetoe,” Mr Basra told The Indian Weekender.
“Let’s called them our guests instead of stranded Indian nationals, and I would say rather I am fortunate to be of any help to them during these unprecedented times,” Mr Basra said.
Mr Basra added that he was personally present at the lodge two weeks back to receive his guests and asked his team to make sure everyone had a comfortable stay at the lodge.
All the guests were enquired of their dietary requirements so that such food arrangements can be made for them accordingly and are being served with three times meal daily for more than two weeks now.
“We are living in an untested time where every day is different, and these Indian nationals were stranded without any means to help themselves. They could not travel back, and they were out of money to extend their accommodations here- and helping them with accommodation and food was the most basic and humane thing I could do in my capacity,” Mr Basra added.
Mr Basra recalled the day when he met his new guests at the lodge saying they were exhausted, emotional and showed a sign of relief at arrival.
“The guests were tired, but they had a sign of relief in their voice and thanked my lodge team and me immensely for helping them out. Some of them were emotional about their situation, and I spoke to them calming their emotions, welcoming and making them feel at home,” Mr Basra said.
The stranded Indian nationals will be staying at their lodge for some more time until the Indian government arranges their repatriation back home.