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Updated: May 5, 2020 10:23:06 pm
Vande Bharat Mission: An archive image from Kolkata Airport. Under the repatriation plan, the government will gradually facilitate the return of stranded Indian citizens abroad for compelling reasons
In one of the largest evacuation exercises since the 1990 Kuwait airlift, the government will operate 64 flights from May 7 to 13 bringing home thousands of stranded Indian nationals abroad due to coronavirus blockade. Named “Mission Vande Bharat,” Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said Tuesday that preparations for the operation had begun and urged stranded individuals to keep in touch with Indian embassies in their respective countries.
Under the repatriation plan, the government will gradually facilitate the return of stranded Indian citizens abroad for compelling reasons. All international flights have been on the ground since mid-March.
In addition, the Indian Navy has launched Operation “Samudra Setu” (sea bridge) to repatriate Indian citizens from abroad. The Jalashwa and Magar naval ships are en route to the Male port to evacuate people starting May 8. The government said only those who test negative Covid-19 will be able to travel.
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What is the mission “Vande Bharat Mission” about?
The “Vande Bharat Mission” will see the operation of 64 flights from May 7 to 13 to bring back some 15,000 stranded Indian citizens abroad amid the Covid-19 blockade. Once completed, it may turn out to be the largest evacuation operation since Kuwait’s 1.7-lakh-person 1990 airlift.
Preparations for the Vande Bharat mission began. Planning ongoing for stranded Indian citizens to return home starting May 7. Install them to stay in regular contact with their embassies. pic.twitter.com/uFtNijO3DO
– Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 5, 2020
What countries will the flights be sent to?
India will operate 10 flights to the UAE, seven flights each to the US. USA And the United Kingdom, five flights to Saudi Arabia, five flights to Singapore and two flights to Qatar to repatriate Indian citizens between May 7 and 13. During this period, India will also operate seven flights each to Malaysia and Bangladesh, five flights each to Kuwait and the Philippines, two flights each to Oman and Bahrain.
The maximum number of flights (15) will be sent from Kerala, 11 each for Delhi-NCR and Tamil Nadu, seven for Maharashtra and Telangana, five for Gujarat, three for Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka, and one for Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. . Approximately 2,000 people from abroad will fly back to India daily.
What is the flight schedule?
The national airline Air India and its subsidiary Air India Express will operate 64 flights over seven days, from May 7 to 13, to carry out the evacuation, Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said. Around seven special Air India flights are scheduled from London Heathrow Airport to Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Bangalore starting Thursday.
“Those arriving on repatriation flights will be screened, quarantined for 14 days. Of the 64 flights to bring the stranded Indians from abroad, 11 out of nine countries will land in Tamil Nadu,” the news agency said. PTI he quoted Puri as saying.
What categories of people will have priority?
In an order, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla said priority to return to India will be given to pressing cases of distress, including migrant workers, workers who have been laid off and those facing visa expiration. short term. People with medical emergencies, pregnant women, the elderly, those who must return to India due to the death of a family member and students will also take precedence, the home ministry said.
Who will bear the cost of the airline tickets?
Passengers will be charged Rs 50,000 each for London-Delhi / Mumbai / Ahmedabad / Bangalore flights and Rs 12,000 for Dhaka-Delhi flights. To passengers who are repatriated from the US. USA They will be charged Rs 1 lakh, while those in Dubai will have to pay Rs 13,000. The MEA will give travelers a two-day notice of the time (day, place, and time of arrival) of the incoming flight on its website.
Air tickets will only be issued to those on the passenger lists prepared by the Embassy or Consulate, according to the statement. In addition, medical checks would be carried out on the passengers before taking the flight. Only asymptomatic passengers could travel.
What precautions should evacuees take?
Punya Salila Srivastava, joint secretary of the Union Interior Ministry, stated that stranded Indians who would be brought on special flights from abroad would have to download the mobile application “Aarogya Setu” and follow all the health guidelines issued by the government.
The statement also said that passengers will be medically examined before taking the flight. Only asymptomatic passengers may travel. During the trip, all passengers must follow the protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Passengers will also be required to sign a commitment to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in India.
What is the “Operation Samudra Setu” of the Indian Navy?
In addition to the flights, the Indian Navy launched “Operation Samudra Setu” (Bridge of the Sea) as part of the national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from abroad. “Indian naval vessels Jalashwa and Magar are currently en route to the port of Malè, Republic of Maldives to begin evacuation operations from May 8, 2020 as part of Phase 1,” the Navy statement said.
This operation is being coordinated between the Ministries of Defense, External Affairs, Home Affairs, Health and various other agencies of the Government of India and state governments.
The statement added that the Indian mission in the Maldives was preparing a list of Indian citizens to be evacuated by naval ships and would facilitate their repatriation after the required medical examination. “It is planned to evacuate a total of 1,000 people during the first voyage, in accordance with the social distancing regulations related to COVID in relation to the carrying capacity and available medical facilities on board,” he said.
“Evacuated personnel will be landed in Kochi, Kerala and entrusted to the care of state authorities,” he added. This operation is being coordinated between the Ministries of Defense, External Affairs, Home Affairs, Health and various other agencies of the Government of India and state governments.
In Kochi, a defense ministry spokesperson told PTI on Tuesday that a naval ship has been dispatched to Dubai. INS Shardul was diverted to Dubai to evacuate expatriates and will return to Kochi, he said.
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