Daijiworld Media Network - Washington (SHP)

Washington, Apr 29: As the number of positive cases in the United States witness a rapid increase, many stranded Americans in India who signed up to get airlifted are now reconsidering their stand. As per the state department's top consular official, several of the Americans in India were now deciding to drop the idea of going back to their country and deciding to 'ride it out' the pandemic.

Principal deputy assistant secretary of State Ian Brownlee said on Tuesday that many who had enlisted for repatriation from India were not responding to offers of seats on the planes arranged by the department to take them home.

The pandemic continues to strengthen its noose around the United States, with the cases on Tuesday touching the 1 million mark and over 58,348 deaths. Meanwhile, India has 31,332 officially recorded cases with 1,007 fatalities.

Brownlee said: "Two weeks ago, we had a list of folks and we were pretty sure if we called (the) folks they'd show up at the airport and say, 'Yes, please.' We're now getting to the point on that list, where we're making multiple calls for individual seats because people are deciding 'No,' and are saying that they would ride it out where they are."

Last week, Brownlee asserted that 4,000 Americans had been brought back to the US and 6,000 were waiting for airlifts.

India has cancelled passenger flights and rail transportation during the strict lockdown imposed on March 25.

Earlier, Brownlee had also explained the massive logistics involved in bringing Americans from around the country to Mumbai and New Delhi, the departure points for the chartered flights.