Thousands From Subcontinent Throw Heathrow Into Disarray

The immigration service at London’s Heathrow Airport was thrown into disarray Tuesday as thousands of visitors from the Indian subcontinent tried to beat a midnight deadline requiring them to have visas to enter Britain.

A spokesman for the Home Office, the government department responsible for immigration, described immigration facilities at Heathrow as “chockablock” and said the 150 officers were under “tremendous pressure and stress.”

The last-minute travelers were hoping to gain entry to Britain before midnight, when government regulations began requiring residents of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and certain African countries to have visas to be admitted as visitors for up to 12 months.

A Home Office spokesman said at least 300 visitors were kept in government detention centers Monday night while immigration officers considered their cases, and 300 others were expected to be held overnight Tuesday.

In 1985, 260,000 residents of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan were allowed into Britain as visitors for periods ranging up to 12 months.