Indian students, families caught in flight suspension in the UK. (Figurative)
London:
Many Indian students planning to travel back home to be with their friends and family in India over the Christmas and New Years period are among those caught in Monday’s suspension of all flights to and from the UK as that the world reacts to a new fast. spread of the coronavirus strain detected in parts of England.
While many students would have made travel plans in early December after UK universities set up tests to leave campus processes in place, there are some who book flights in what is one of the busiest travel periods. within the UK-India sector.
While tourist visas remain largely suspended, those for the UK for family reasons are also among those caught up in the cancellation.
“Significant concern is being seen from both incoming and outgoing Indian students,” said Sanam Arora, president of the National Union of Indian Students and Alumni of the United Kingdom (NISAU-UK), a representative group of Indian students in the UK.
“Many students had planned to travel back to India to be with their families during the holiday period or from India to the UK to begin settling in the country before the start of the January session. As we speak, there are many questions being raised. about stagnation and confusion, for example whether the PCR test detects the new virus strain, “he said.
The High Commission of India in London issued several messages on its social media platforms with updates from the Indian Ministry of Civil Aviation.
“This suspension will begin at 11:59 p.m. on December 22, 2020. Consequently, flights from India to the UK will be temporarily suspended during that period,” he said, in a statement in response to a series of inquiries from travelers whether Incoming flights from India to the UK may be allowed to land.
Air India, which has been operating flights under the Vande Bharat mission to carry passengers during the coronavirus pandemic shutdown this year, also confirmed immediate cancellations.
“In view of the Ministry of Civil Aviation directive suspending all flights to / from the UK from 2359 hours on 22 December to 2359 hours on 31 December 2020, no Air India flights will operate to the UK United during this period, “he said. .
The expat group in the UK urged calm and recommended to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and People of Indian Origin (PIO) to follow the new lockdown rules, which means that the majority of the UK is under the strictest lockdown with all non-essential businesses now closed.
“Due to a new mutant, the coronavirus is moving fast and wide in the UK. I would like to ask the Indian community not to take it lightly,” said Kuldeep Shekhawat, Chairman of the Overseas Friends of BJP group (OFBJP ).
“Please do not panic. These are very difficult times and all possible precautions must be taken and all British government guidelines must be adhered to. The flight ban is in effect for your safety only. Both the government is monitoring the situation very closely as New guidelines will be issued as the situation progresses, “he said.
The UK Home Office has previously offered coronavirus-related grace periods for any visa expiration recovered as a result of travel disruption due to lockdown.
“Throughout the pandemic, we have introduced measures to help those affected by global travel and health restrictions, such as relaxing the rules on changing visas in the country, allowing those who wish to remain in the UK submit a request from within the UK, “said a Home Office spokesman.
“In August, we implemented a one-off guarantee process to protect the status of those who have a license that expires before January 31 and cannot leave the UK,” the spokesperson said.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
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