Pushpinder Singh is thanking his lucky stars for taking advantage of a small window to leave Covid-ravaged India and fly to New Zealand.
As a New Zealand citizen, Indian-born Singh was able to board a flight in New Delhi on May 1, three days after the New Zealand Government lifted a ban on returning citizens from high-risk countries like India.
From there he flew to San Francisco and on to Los Angeles for a connecting flight to Auckland before the United States closes its borders to India tomorrow.
![Before he left Covid-ravaged New Delhi, Pushpinder Singh advised his parents to stay indoors. Photo / AP](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/BKW64LYHF5CJX6I6RUGKODT43A.jpg?auth=deb77a0586777ebb58483e6d8aefd7b2f0a30f8ea5d71221951850a4980dea87&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
The flight, which took nearly three days and cost about $6000, was the only way to return home to Auckland after his return flight via Dubai on Emirates was cancelled when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) closed its borders to India.