Covid-19 Lockdown: Woman, toddler return to New Zealand on a mercy flight

A mercy flight was arranged by New Zealand government to take back a mother and her toddler who were stuck in India amid lockdown. The woman had come to India to visit her parents staying in Paradi.

Vadodara: The New Zealand government arranged a mercy flight to take back a woman and her seven-month-old daughter who got stuck in Paradi due to lockdown.

Married in Vadodara but settled in New Zealand, Samantha Tallier had come to India in December last with her toddler to visit her parents in Paradi. Samantha’s father, a retired principal, lives in Sun Rise colony in Paradi. Though she had a return flight ticket for March, she couldn't travel back as all flights were cancelled due to the lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus.

The New Zealand government has been providing loans to its citizens stuck in India so that they can buy plane tickets. The citizens can return the loan amount after reaching New Zealand.

Samantha's passport was with her in-laws in Vadodara and because of the travel restrictions placed by the government, she and her father approached Paradi municipality vice president Bipinbhai who took up her case with Paradi sub-divisional magistrate N C Patel and Prant Officer C P Patel who suggested them to apply online for E-pass to be able to travel to Vadodara.

The e-pass came within 24 hours enabling them to go to Vadodara and collect the passport.

With the help of Valsad district administration, Samantha Tallier and her daughter were able to fly back to New Zealand on Monday (April 27).