Six broke tourists — including an American — tried to sit out the coronavirus pandemic in an Indian cave and have been sent to quarantine at an ashram near a city where the Beatles gathered to meditate in 1968, according to a report.
The four men and two women – including French, Ukrainian, Turkish and Nepalese citizens — had been hunkered down in the cave near Rishikesh in Uttarakhand state since March 24, police inspector Rajendra Singh Kathait told Agence France-Presse.
They cave dwellers have been moved to Swarg Ashramto spend 14 days under quarantine, although none of them have shown symptoms of the illness, according to AFP.
“Before the lockdown began, they were living in a hotel in the Muni Ki Reti region but they moved to the cave after they ran out of money,” Kathait told the news outlet. “However, they had saved some money to buy food and other supplies.”
The Nepalese man had been buying essential items to help the group, Kathait added.
About 700 foreign tourists remain in Rishikesh and the government has launched the website “Stranded in India” to help international travelers.
In 1968, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr sought refuge from Beatlemania by going to Rishikesh for spiritual enlightenment and to immerse themselves in Indian culture.
In addition to practicing transcendental meditation, the Fab Four also wrote about 40 songs at their ashram in the yoga retreat city, including some featured on “Abbey Road” and “The White Album.”
India has been under a nationwide lockdown since late March. It was due to be lifted on April 15, but has been extended to at least May 3.
The country has reported more than 15,700 coronavirus cases, including 507 deaths.
