Mr Khanna said he was contacted by the Australian authorities after he notified them about his brother’s death.

Sunil’s is the third confirmed COVID-19 death of an Australian citizen or permanent resident in India,with the virus devastating the country since a deadly second wave took hold earlier this year.

Govind Kant,47,died on the weekend after travelling to India for his mother’s funeral, while the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade earlier this month confirmed thedeath of a 59-year-old permanent resident. Mr Kant’s sister said he had tried to secure a flight home in mid-April but was unable to. He eventually booked an Air India flight for April 24,but tested positive in the days before it was due to leave.

Mr Khanna is now mourning the loss of his mother and only brother while trying to look after his elderly father who is alone in India with no family left. He is desperate for the government to allow his father into the country on humanitarian grounds,willing to sponsor him on a parental visa.

“He’s very anxious and quite teary and lonely when I speak to him,but I try to keep him positive,” Mr Khanna said.

“He’s my last remaining relative I have in India. An 83-year-old,alone by himself stuck in the home and I can’t go there.”

DFAT was conacted for comment but did not respond.

The government considers exemptions for travel into or out of Australia during the pandemic for immediate family of citizens.

This includesspouses and dependent children,but not their parents.

Sydney migration agent and president of Little India Harris Park Business Association,Sanjay Deshwal,said more compassion needed to be shown to citizens and their families stuck in India.

“We fully understand the notion that Australia has to be kept safe,” he said.

“But not allowing people to come in these dire circumstances is very sad.

“In the Asian subcontinent culture,parents are as close to you as your children and your wife are.

“Parents and grandparents are a very close-knit part of the family.”