Cycle trip ends at Chennai airport

A couple's charity fund-raising cycle ride ended in disaster when they were refused entry to India because they did not have visas.
Cycling enthusiasts Jan and John Wilkinson, of Conrad Close, Worsley Mesnes, planned to cycle round India to raise funds for St James' Church, Poolstock.
But, after they flew to Chennai (formerly known as Madras) to start their adventure, they were refused access as they had no visa.
Jan, 63, admitted that the travel agent had told her they would need a
visa but among all the fund-raising and organisation, she forgot all about it.
"We were in ignorance. I did think we would not need them for India as it is a British Commonwealth country."
The couple were stopped at passport control as they had no visa to enter the country.
They flew to Qatar where they had their passports taken from them and slept on the floor until they could get a flight back to Manchester.
The couple now have the visa forms and are still determined to complete the 2,000 mile-trip.
11/02/08 Natalie Walker/Wigan Today, UK

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Categories: airports Feb 2008, Foreign Feb 2008