COVID-19: a 29-year-old woman flies with her husband’s body on the second day of Indian repatriation from the United Arab Emirates

Dubai: A young woman accompanying her husband’s body, a visitor in a hazardous materials suit and several workers who lost their jobs are among those who arrived on the two flights to Chennai on Friday, day two of the repatriation related to COVID-19 from India from the UAE

While her husband’s body, L.M. Kumar, 35, lay in the cargo, a torn Kollammal V, 29, boarded Air India Express flight IX540, along with others.

Kumar, a senior quality control officer at the RAK Ceramics Health Department in Ras Al Khaimah, died of a heart attack while on duty on April 13.

“As always, he went to work after breakfast. Around 10 am, security came from campus saying that he is in the hospital. They took me to see him. But I didn’t get permission. At night, they told me it’s gone, ”Kollammal said crying to Gulf News.

Married for three years, Kollammal had joined her husband here two years ago. “He was my everything. He took care of me like a child. I’m still alive because I need to take him back home, “she said.

“I have never traveled anywhere alone. He has left me alone and this is my first trip also alone. No woman should have that fate, ”said the heartbroken Kollammal, trying to hold back tears.

In addition to her, nearly 200 workers, 37 pregnant women, some babies and 42 people with medical cases were on the two Air India Express flights to Chennai on Friday, the Indian Consulate in Dubai said.

There were around 360 passengers in total on the two flights.

These passengers on the third and fourth flights of the mass repatriation exercise called the Vande Bharat Mission included seniors, stranded tourists and families of those traveling, the mission said.

After a successful operation of the first two flights from the United Arab Emirates on the first day, the second day began with an unexpected delay of five and a half hours for the first flight to Chennai.

A few passengers, who did not receive information from the airline about the delay, arrived at the airport at 9 am.

Kollammal and Gopinath Vasu and their uncle Shankar Adimulu, who had lost their jobs as electricians in Sharjah, were among those who arrived early. The electricians said Kollammal was kind enough to share some fruits with them.

In contrast to Kollammal’s heartbreaking story, Indian couple Vasudevan, 31, and Mina, 29, passengers on the same flight, were hoping to start a family at home.

A new life is waiting for the couple, as Mina is pregnant with their first child.

The scene outside the Terminal 2 departure terminal of Dubai International Airport was also more relaxed compared to the first day of repatriation.

Most passengers on the delayed flight arrived only after 3 p.m., after receiving information about the delay.

Many passengers arrived by taxi and there were only few people to see them at the airport.

One of the passengers who was noted for the extra precautions he took was John Philip, an Avadi visitor to Chennai, who was covered from top to bottom in a hazardous materials suit and goggles.

In a video interview tweeted by the Consulate, he said he would return home since his family is alone.

“Right now, being with family is important. There is nothing more important than family. That’s the only thing I thought about. I am very grateful to the Indian government for organizing this flight. “

Other passengers told Gulf News that they are leaving the United Arab Emirates with a heavy heart. The country has been their second home for years and decades to some.

But it was also time to rebuild their lives at home, while others said that being repatriated was only a brief pause, as they promised to return to Dubai soon.

Sheikh Meeran, 40, who worked as a PRO (public relations officer) for a real estate company and a resident of the UAE for 20 years, said it was time to press the reset button.

With a check-in bag and a small backpack, Meeran said: “I feel sad to be leaving Dubai right now. Most of my plans have been abruptly suspended. My company let me go due to the recession in our business caused by this global pandemic. But I am optimistic, Dubai will recover and emerge stronger from this crisis. “

“My company paid for my ticket and I think I will call back soon when things are back to normal. But for now, I am excited to see my wife and two children, ages 10 and 8 months, “added Meeran, before entering the terminal.

The other flight, IX 612, also had another story of a growing family. – that Jayalabdeen, 33, and his wife, Shahutha.

Jayalabdeen, 33, and his wife, Shahutha, with their two-year-old daughter, Fatima, have decided to build their family in their hometown of Tamil Nadu. A fourth member is expected to be added to her family as Shahutha is now in her fifth month of pregnancy.

The couple had lived for four years in Ras al Khaimah, where Jayalabdeen worked as a health and safety executive for a chemical company.

“We love the UAE for the security and provision it has provided us with in four years. It’s goodbye for now, but we are ready to return to the country when an opportunity arises, “the couple said.

The Indian Consul General in Dubai Vipul was at the airport for the second day in a row to oversee the arrangements.

Since eight people who failed to show up on Friday had to be replaced by people on the waiting list, the Consulate urged community members that “no seats on these special flights should be left empty.”

The mission helped four other passengers, who were trapped due to immigration problems, he said in a tweet posted at 7:40 pm.

Consul Neelu Rohra, who was in charge of the flight, and Uma, a Tamil-speaking official at the consulate, were also present to provide guidance to the passengers.

“Thanks to the Dubai Airport, the Dubai Police and the Dubai Health Authority for their excellent support,” the mission tweeted.

The Indian Consulate in Dubai launched a new free helpline service on Friday, a toll-free number 800-244-382, to assist Indians flying home on repatriation flights. “The Dubai Indian Consulate General is pleased to announce a toll free number to facilitate queries related to COVID-19 and repatriation flights. 800-244-382. We seek your understanding, there is heavy traffic on our helpline numbers and it may take some time, ”the mission tweeted.

The new free service is expected to further streamline the repatriation procedures that began Thursday, as there have been changes to flight schedules and other concerns that applicants hoping to fly home could clarify.

This is also expected to ease the burden on COVID-19 helpline numbers through which the mission provides telemedicine advisory and consultation services.

All repatriation flights to India are operated from DXB Terminal 2 by India’s national airlines Air India and Air India Express, Dubai airport said on Friday.

Dubai airports have also called on family and friends of passengers to assist in the repatriation operation and fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) by saying goodbye at home and avoiding crowds at the airport.

Entrance to the terminal was strictly limited to ticketed passengers carrying valid documents and wearing face masks.

“As part of the new pre-check-in procedures, all passengers underwent a heat screening and rapid antibody test, performed by the Dubai Health Authority Airport Medical Center team,” said Dubai Airports .

Social distancing measures, including signs, floor decals, and separate seating areas have also been implemented throughout the DXB, while check-in counters and immigration counters have been equipped with displays to provide additional security to the personnel, who must also wear personal protective equipment (PPE)), he added.