Highlights
- India's mega evacuation exercise to kick off from May 7, 2020.
India will send commercial jets and naval warships to bring back hundreds of thousands of citizens stranded across the world due to coronavirus restrictions.
- More than 64 flights arranged to bring back Indians from 12 countries.
- Indians stuck in Australia urged to register their interest.
‘Government of India will be facilitating the return of Indian nationals stranded abroad on compelling grounds in a phased manner. The travel would be arranged by aircraft and naval ships,’ the government said.
Several thousand were stranded abroad after India banned all incoming international flights in late March when it imposed one of the world's strictest nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19.
India’s Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar said they had ‘commenced preparations for Vande Bharat Mission.’
The phase-I of the evacuation plan includes bringing back close to 15,000 citizens from 12 countries in the first week.
‘Indian Embassies and High Commissions are preparing a list of distressed Indian citizens,’ the government said.
The first phase will see India send 10 flights to the UAE, seven flights each to the US and the UK, five flights to Saudi Arabia, five to Singapore and two to Qatar to repatriate Indian nationals, India’s Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said.
During this period, India will also send seven flights each to Malaysia and Bangladesh, five flights each to Kuwait and Philippines, two flights each to Oman and Bahrain, Puri added.
Indian naval warships have also set out to bring back Indians stuck in the Maldives and the UAE.
Priority will be given to pregnant women, the elderly, people with medical emergencies and ones with bereavement or serious illness in their immediate family, apart from stranded tourists and citizens who have lost their jobs abroad.
The phase-I of the evacuation plan includes bringing back close to 15,000 citizens from 12 countries. Source: Indian Government
People wanting to come back will have to pay for their journey, the Indian government has said.
All passengers will be screened, and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed on board.
‘Medical screening of passengers would be done before taking the flight. Only asymptomatic passengers would be allowed to travel. During the journey, all these passengers would have to follow the protocols, such as the Health Protocols, issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Civil Aviation,’ the government said.
Those who undertake this government arranged journey will be quarantined for 14 days before having to go through a virus test, the government said.
‘On reaching the destination, everyone would have to register on the Aarogya Setu app. Everyone would be medically screened. After scrutiny, they would be quarantined for 14 days, either in a hospital or in an institutional quarantine on payment-basis, by the concerned State government. COVID test would be done after 14 days and further action would be taken according to health protocols,’ the advice states.
State Governments are being advised to make arrangements, including for testing, quarantine and onward movement of the returning Indians in their respective States.
Passengers seen undergoing temperature check as a precaution against a new coronavirus at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, India Source: AAP Image/AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool
When will flights be arranged from Australia?
While there is no confirmation yet on flights from Australia, the Indian High Commission in Australia has urged people to register their interest by May 10.
‘Indian nationals stranded in Australia due to COVID19 and with compelling needs to travel to India are advised to register themselves and submit required details in the following link: ,’ Consul General of Melbourne, Mr Raj Kumar said.
‘Those nationals who have individually contacted the Mission/Posts earlier for assistance are also requested to register themselves using the above link.
‘It may be noted that the purpose of the exercise is only to collect details for planning purposes and no decision has been taken yet regarding the operation of any flights from Australia to India. As and when a decision is taken by the Government of India in this regard, the Consulate will make an announcement on its website and its social media accounts,’ Mr Kumar said.
India close to 50,000 mark
India on Wednesday had 49,436 cases of the infectious disease and 1,695 deaths.
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