Vande Bharat Mission takes off; Flights to bring back more than 350 Indians from UAE
NATIONAL | MAY 07, 2020:
In one of the largest evacuation exercises named the Vande Bharat Mission, the government is operating 64 flights from Thursday evening till 13th May to bring home nearly 14,800 Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the coronavirus lockdown. Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar on Tuesday urged the stranded individuals to stay in touch with the Indian embassies in their countries.
The 64 flights will include 10 flights from the UAE, 2 from Qatar, 5 from Saudi Arabia, 7 from UK, 5 from Singapore, 7 from the United States, 5 from the Philippines, 7 from Bangladesh, 2 from Bahrain, 7 from Malaysia, 5 from Kuwait and 2 flights from Oman.
Out of the total, fifteen flights will bring back people to Kerala followed by eleven flights each to Tamil Nadu and Delhi. Seven flights will be flying back people to Maharashtra and Telangana whereas five flights are slated for Gujarat.
The Maximum number of flights in the first week of repatriation will bring back citizens from the Gulf countries. More than 350 Indians from UAE are flying back home today.
Indian navy ship INS Jalashwa reached Maldives capital of Male today as part of efforts to repatriate Indian nationals from foreign shores. The program named Samudrasetu by Indian navy entails to bring back around two thousand Indians in two ships during the first phase of evacuation.
