Ministry of Tourism’s portal strandedinindia.com portal to identify and help tourists stranded in several parts of India during the lockdown has emerged a crucial helping hand for such tourists. Since its launch on 31st March 2020, nearly over 1200 tourists have received assistance through the portal as per ministry communication. In addition, the ministry has confirmed to have received phone calls at their regular toll-free helpline from 779 tourists from all over India.

An American woman who was stranded in Bihar during the Covid-19 lockdown has expressed her profound gratitude for the tourism ministry’s efforts in coordinating the required transit-permit and means of travel for her to reach her son who was undergoing medical treatment Delhi at that time. She had requested for help through Tourism Ministry portal.

In another such case, an Australian tourist who was stranded in Ahmedabad had approached the ministry through the portal to help with his epilepsy medicines. Ministry then promptly connected him to the local district collector who provided him sufficient medication, local transport and safe stay.

The portal lists details about a Ministry of External Affairs Covid-19 control centre, with a list of dedicated desks of officials handling different geographic locations, including the U.S., Italy, Spain, Japan, China, Russia and Latin America.