A group of 19 British holidaymakers quarantined in India say they have been treated like ‘criminals’ after a member of their group tested positive for coronavirus, Joe Wallen writes.

Graham, 59, and Maxine Moore, 57, from Peterborough have been quarantined in a hotel in Kochi city, Kerala, for four days.

They had no air conditioning for two-and-a-half days, despite temperatures soaring to 36°C, had to purchase their own water and use broken toilets.

Disaster struck after the group arrived in the hill-station of Munnar on March 12 and a man in his 50s began to complain of fever and breathing problems. He was taken for tests at hospital before returning to the Tea County Hotel to isolate. On March 14, the hotel manager said the patient had tested negative but the group would have to leave India immediately as external flights were being curtailed.

After an all-night drive the group proceeded to check-in at Cochin International Airport in Kochi.

Some Indian media outlets reported the group had recorded a positive test while in Munnar and knowingly fled from the authorities.

“We feel we have been made into criminals but we haven’t done one little thing, we have done what we were told,” said Mrs Moore.

“It is very unsettling, when you are so far from home and you don’t have a clue what is happening behind the scenes.”

The group has been told they will only be allowed to leave the country if swab tests conducted yesterday are negative. Officials have said it could take up to 28 days to receive their results.

The group have since discovered the hotel manager in Munnar lied about the initial negative test to get them to leave his property. He has been arrested.