So, here is a quick guide to lower your panic levels in case your passport is lost/stolen:
1. ALWAYS, and this is an imperative, keep the major stack of your money and your backup debit/credit inside your main luggage that has a combination lock system.
2. Never carry all your money and cards together in a bunch.
3. Carry in your main luggage a folder with at least 5 copies of your passport, visa, flight tickets, another address and DOB proof (preferably your Adhaar card) and a handful of your passport-sized photographs. Also, keep scanned copies of all these documents in your mail as well as your phone.
4. The moment you notice you passport gone, head straight to the police station and report a loss of passport.
5. You would need to produce your document proof there and hence carry your scanned copies in your phone. Get the police officer to sign and stamp the report of loss/theft.
6. Ask them if it's possible to make a copy. If there is no such option, make some copies from a nearby copy store.
7. You need to find the nearest Consulate General of India. If you're in luck, it will be in the very city you lost your passport in. But if not, find the nearest city with our Embassy and take a cheap mode of transport to that city. Flight travel would require a passport and hence your options are limited to train and road. If I had lost my passport in Florence, I would need to file a police report in Florence and THEN come to Milan because the Consulate General of India is in Milan.
8. Phone the embassy and ask the price for an Emergency Passport and have the amount ready by the time you go in. Be at the Consulate as sooner in the day as you can. You will get your emergency passport in no time. But if you go after the first half, chances are, you won't be able to get your hands on an Emergency Passport on the same day.
9. Produce the police report along with copies of all your documents (passport, visa, flight tickets) to the Consulate for a smooth process. Be patient and answer any questions they ask with honestly.
10. And most importantly, don't panic. You have a way out. These things happen way too often in foreign countries and you will be helped by friendly officials.
Also, posting here the addresses of the Indian Consulate services in Italy:
Consulate General of India
Piazza Paolo Ferrari, 8 - 20121, Milan
20121 Milan, Italy
Tel: (0039) 02 80 57 691/ 02 86 53 37
Maximum 7-minute walk from Duomo Cathedral, 5-minute walk from Milano Centrale station
How to reach Subway:
Line 1 (Red), stop at "Cordusio"Tram: 1 - stop at Santa Margherita 2, 12, 14, 16, 27 - stop at Via Orefici Piazza Cordusio
The Embassy of India
Via XX Settembre 5; next to the Palazzo del Quirinale
00187 - Roma RM, Italy
Tel: (0039) 064884642-3-4-5
Maximum 20-minute walk from the Coloseum
How to reach Subway:
Line A, stop at "Repubblica". Maximum 6-minute walk