Lacking Money, Tourists Hide in Cave

Four men and two women from France, the United States, Ukraine, Turkey and Nepal had been living in the cave near Respecies in Uttarakhand, northern India since 24 March, according to police inspector Rajendra Singh Kathai.

There have also been unconfirmed reports of several police officers in the state allegedly foreign tourists breaking up the curfew, Kosovo Press broadcasts.

The area became famous by Beatles, who came to Reschesh in 1968, seeking refuge from Beatlemania and to become familiar with Indian culture.

Foreign tourists have now moved to Swarg Ashram, where they will be quarantined for 14 days, although no one has shown symptoms of coronary.

Before the impasse started, they were living in a hotel in Munich Kitti, but they moved to the cave after they were left without money,” said Kathai.

“However, they had saved money to buy food and other supplies. A man from Nepal was helping the group buy essentials”, he added.

India has been in isolation since the end of March, with residents allowed to leave their homes only for essential services such as buying food or medicine.

The impasse was expected to be lifted on April 15th, but has continued until May 3rd. Some sectors including agriculture and production will be allowed to reopen from Monday to ease the difficulties of poor residents.

About 700 foreign tourists remain in Respecies, according to the State of Tourism Department, and the government has started the web site é Sterned in India to help travelers from abroad.

Numerous governments, including Germany, the US and Great Britain, have taken flights to take home their citizens from India.

The second most populated state in the world, with 1.3 billion people, has reported more than 15,700 cases of coronary, including 507 deaths from the disease.