An Indian entrepreneur named Ayush Panchmiya went through a terrible experience during his trip to Spain. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn, he shared how his passport, US visa, and cash were stolen—and how he managed to return home just in time.
What Happened?
Ayush, who co-founded a marketing startup for Web3 brands called Blockwee, was visiting Barcelona after attending a crypto conference in Cannes, France. While working at a Starbucks café with his team, he stepped outside to take a phone call and left his bag under the table—something he had done many times before.
I lost my passport, US visa, and all my cash… in Spain.
Let me walk you through the worst 48 hours of my travel life and how I got out of it.We had just landed in Barcelona after a heavy week at ETHCC Cannes. It was a chill morning for us. Our team was at Starbucks, editing… pic.twitter.com/A26oV08Y00
— Ayush Panchmiya (@lets_ash) August 2, 2025
But when he came back, his bag was gone.
The Bag Had Everything
The stolen bag had:
- His passport
- US visa
- Credit cards
- A large amount of cash
He immediately panicked. He had heard about theft risks in Barcelona but didn’t expect it to happen to him.
No Quick Help from Police
He asked the Starbucks staff to show CCTV footage, but they said only the police could access it. When he went to the nearest police station, he was told that reviewing CCTV footage could take 15 to 20 days—much longer than he could wait.
Ayush had a flight back to India on Monday, and the theft happened on Saturday.
Embassy to the Rescue
Since it was the weekend, the Indian Embassy was closed. So Ayush had to wait until Monday morning to seek help. As soon as it opened, he rushed in.
Thankfully, the embassy acted fast. Within 4 to 5 hours, they issued him an emergency certificate, which works like a temporary passport. With that, he was able to catch his flight home on Monday evening.
Read more: Indian-Origin Family Goes Missing During US Road Trip, Last Seen at Burger King in Pennsylvania
A Hard Lesson
Now back in India, Ayush is working on getting a new passport and applying again for his visas. He shared his story not to complain but to warn other travellers.
“If you travel often, especially in Europe, be careful. Always keep important items safe. And if something does go wrong, ask for an emergency certificate—it can be issued quickly if your flight is near,” he advised.
His message is clear: Be alert, know your options, and don’t panic if the worst happens. Help is available.
