Air India flight takes 323 Indians home from London to Bangalore

The Air India flight in London before taking off on Sunday. (Twitter / India in the UK)

A repatriation flight by Air India (1803), with 323 passengers, arrived from London in Bangalore around 4:47 a.m. on Monday after a delay of almost two hours and a layover in the national capital.

The passengers were screened and verified, and health department officials also handed them a self-declaration form. They will be transferred to hotels for a 14-day quarantine on 16 BMTC buses, authorities said.

In addition to this, the body of technician Shivaraj Gadegeppagowda Patil, a Hubballi resident who had committed suicide in the United Kingdom, also arrived at Kempegowda International Airport.

Shivaraj committed suicide at his home in south east England 58 days ago. His wife and son also arrived on the same flight.

The daughter of the MLC Jayamala Congress, Soundarya, was also among those who flew to the capital of Karnataka.

The BMTC organized sixteen buses to take passengers to Bengaluru hotels for quarantine. According to BMTC officials, each bus will accommodate only 20 passengers to ensure social distancing.

Passengers were given the option of choosing three five-star and budget hotels selected by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) or government quarantine centers, which are shelters run by the department of social welfare, the welfare departments of backward classes and minority welfare departments.

According to BBMP officials, nearly 7,000 rooms in 80 hotels across the city have been identified as quarantine centers.

A senior health official said: “BBMP has identified 10 five-star hotels, 12 three-star hotels and 50 budget hotels to quarantine all those who will return from abroad.”

For five-star hotels, each person will be charged Rs 4,100, while the rate for three-star hotels will be Rs 1,850 per person. Budget hotels will charge Rs 1,200, which includes three meals, taxes and room rent.

“Symptomatic passengers on arrival will be evaluated and sent to designated hospitals for treatment and only asymptomatic passengers on arrival will be sent to hotels,” the official added.

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