Bring us back home, cry Jaipur residents stranded in Japan

By Archana Sharma

Jaipur, April 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) People from Rajasthan, among hundreds of Indians, stranded in Japan due to lockdown, have appealed the External Affairs Ministry to take notice of them as they are facing unprecedented mental distress in a foreign land amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

The recent Japanese advisory of tsunami and earthquake have only aggravated their worries.

Kamal Vijayvergiya, a Jaipur-based exporter of tea and herbal products who is stranded in Tokyo, sent a video to IANS sharing his plight.

Vijayvergiya said he was on a four-day business visit of Japan on March 18. "Now, I am not able to return due to lockdown. It's more frightening situation here than other nations. The number of Covid-19 patients is over 13,500 and all hospital beds filled. Only Japanese patients are being admitted to hospitals. It's very difficult for Indians to get treatment."

The latest worry, he said, was the constant tremors. "In the past one week, there have been 11 tremors. We have contacted the Indian government, the Indian embassy in Japan and the Prime Minister's Office through social media, but have not received any help," he said.

Vijayvergiya, currently staying at a Japanese client's home, is worried about contracting the infection. "I am staying in an office friend's single room, but can't stay too long because she herself needs regular dialysis. It's risky to be here," Vijayvargiya said.

On Monday, there was a 6.4 magnitude earthquake near the east coast of Japan. Experts have warned of an earthquake of higher intensity in the coming days.

Arpit Vijayvergia, another Jaipur resident, said he was working as chartered accountant in investment banking in Japan.

"In the wake of Covid-19, I quit my job and was planning to return to India. But is stuck here due to lockdown, without any salary. The company accommodation was for a month. Now I will have to pay a huge rent. The advisory on tsunami and earthquake has increased worries," he told IANS.

Stating that they are around 250 people and can easily be accommodated in a flight, Arpit said, "Will be obliged if the government looks into our issue,"

Stating that there has been no April salary and shall have to pay house rent, Arpit said, "I have been here for just 7 months and doesn't understand local language, which is yet another challenge."

He said the Japanese medical system looked to have collapsed. "There is no lockdown and hence huge anxiety of contracting infection," Arpit said.

Deepak Patni, another Jaipur-based professional working in Japan since 2000 in the jewellery segment, had all plans to unite with his family here, but coronavirus put paid to his plans.

"There is no strict lockdown here. People are travelling via Metro and public transport. We are worried. We want to return home and request the government to listen to us," Deepak said.

Source: IANS