Coronavirus: New Zealanders stranded in India begging Jacinda Ardern for mercy

Kiwis stuck in India are running out of medication and money, being kicked out of hotels, and one risks giving birth without her husband. A growing support network of about 300 travellers scattered across the south Asian country are campaigning to have the Government charter a mercy flight home, with many reporting feeling abandoned. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday the decision to rescue travellers in Peru was based on "some very specific issues" and the nature of its lockdown, but she would look into the situation for Kiwis in India. Former Black Caps cricket coach Mike Hesson is among them, in Bengaluru while working for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Liam Smedley, back right, travelled in a rental car for 26 hours with a group of European backpackers to Kolkata to escape India amid the coronavirus chaos. Hamilton's Shelly Wadhwa is stranded in Noida, near New Delhi, and struggling to source her asthma medication. Thousands flee New Delhi as the 21-day lockdown effectively puts workers living off daily earnings out of work. "The emotion kills me when I think I can't be with my wife when she gives birth," he told supporters on the COVID 19 - Kiwis stuck in India Facebook group. Morag Lavich, who is desperately trying to get her parents Don, 72, and Marian Stuart, 69, home from New Delhi, heard of other country's mercy flights leaving from there, Mumbai, and Goa. An MFAT spokeswoman said the advice was to stay put "until options to leave become available", given India's lockdown and the increasing difficulties getting home.